Violinist Stefan Jackiw performs the gorgeous Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy this weekend with the Oregon Symphony. You may remember that Jackiw performed with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra 2011 (Sydney, Australia) the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto:
Category Archives: Musician Spotlight
Violinist Karen Gomyo: Random Tidbits
The fantabulous violinist Karen Gomyo join forces with the Oregon Symphony to perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto this week. Get to know her a bit more! Some random tidbits about Karen: About the Beethoven Violin Concerto: I tried to stay away from the Beethoven Violin Concerto when I was younger. I learned it (went through…
Natasha Paremski Steps In for Yefim Bronfman
Quick post to say that pianist Natasha Paremski, the heroine who got the call with less than 48 hours notice to step in for the indisposed Yefim Bronfman, is playing the youthful Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 splendidly. When I asked Paremski what her reaction was when she got the call to play last-minute, she…
Violin Masterclass Wednesday: Ana Chumachenko
Since Elina Vähälä is coming to Portland this week, I decided to feature Ana Chumachenko, one of Vähälä’s violin mentors. Chumachenko is an active soloist, recitalist and chamber musician who also teaches at the illustrious Kronberg Academy Masters in Germany. Those who attended Chamber Music Northwest concerts this year should note that violinist Christian Tetzlaff and…
Violin Interview with Elina Vähälä
We warmly welcome back violinist Elina Vähälä for her third appearance with the Oregon Symphony (Carlos Kalmar, conducting) September 24, 25, 26 to open our classical 2011-2012 concert season. Born in the United States and raised in Finland, Vähälä’s Oregon Symphony debut in 2007 playing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was met with great enthusiasm. In 2010, Vähälä’s…
Oregon Symphony concertmaster Iwasaki leaves for Nashville
Oregon Symphony’s concertmaster Jun Iwasaki has accepted the concertmaster position with the Nashville Symphony, effective September, 2011. Iwasaki has been a great leader for the past four seasons in Portland and will be missed. I have appreciated his top level of discipline and preparation, his artistic flexibility working with artists and conductors, and his superb…
Conductor Michael Francis Returns- Video
British conductor Michael Francis’ schedule is about to get busier. He will step in again as guest conductor of the Oregon Symphony April 10 and 12 after guest Maestro Gunther Herbig withdrew because of personal reasons. A month ago Francis flew in from London, England on extreme short notice to replace Alondra de la Parra,…