One Name. One Legend. Midori.

 

It was August 25, 1988. Leonard Bernstein was turning 70, and his birthday bash was nothing less than a televised tribute concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Seiji Ozawa. The evening overflowed with stars – Beverly Sills, YoYo Ma, Mstislav Rostropovich – but the moment many of us watching on PBS still remember is the astonishing appearance of a diminutive 16-year old violinist named Midori.

Fresh-faced in a satin dress, she stepped calmly onto the stage, standing before one of the world’s great orchestras and the era’s most iconic conductor. The smile faded, her focus sharpened. Then came Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy – a gauntlet-throwing choice for any violinist, let alone a teenager. For eight blazing minutes she held us spellbound, her technical command rivaling the violin legends who also appeared in the broadcast: Perlman, Menuhin, Stern.

The closeup of Bernstein’s face during the thunderous applause said what all of us were thinking. Holy ****!! Midori’s inclusion in the broadcast was deliberate and deeply symbolic – a tribute to one of Bernstein’s most cherished protégées and a defining voice of the musical future he championed.

 

And now, 38 years later, Midori remains one of the brightest stars in the violin universe. She is our “one-name” artist. Our Cher. Our Madonna. Instantly recognizable. Instantly revered.

How fortunate we are to welcome her back to Knoxville for two performances of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. You do not want to miss this. Members of the orchestra have been buzzing all season about the chance to perform with her.

Perhaps the anticipation is best captured by KSO Concertmaster William Shaub, who put it most clearly:

“In recent years, we’ve seen an influx of remarkable young talent joining our string sections. I can’t imagine a better moment to welcome someone like Midori — a true virtuoso and a deeply thoughtful musician of the highest caliber. She’s made historic strides for the art form and championed young artists throughout her long, spectacular career. We’re all going to learn from her this week – musicians and audience alike. Not only about artistry, but about what it means to be a generous, gracious human being.”

Will’s words feel exactly right for a musician whose artistic imprint continues to shape generations. Midori.

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