Search for:
Double feature
Krannert to host two classical virtuosos.
4:00 am Apr 8 - by Jeff Nelson – buzz Writer
See More About these Events
Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra with Lang Lang, piano »- Event has already occurred
- Krannert Center for the Performing Arts »
500 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
(Show on map)
- Event has already occurred
- Krannert Center for the Performing Arts »
500 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
(Show on map)
April brings to Urbana’s Krannert Center that rarest of classical music events: two soloists who have the quality of “rock stars.” A pianist and a violinist as rock stars? Maybe if their names are Lang Lang and Joshua Bell. These two young virtuosos bring an amazingly broad following to their worlds of classical music. Within a five-day span in April, you can experience both.
On Saturday, April 10, pianist Lang Lang will appear as a soloist with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra and provide us with his interpretation of Mozart’s 17th Piano concerto. The 28-year-old virtuoso has a special connection with the number 17, as he got his first major professional break at age 17 when he was a last minute substitute at a Chicago Symphony concert — not a bad start for a young pianist from Shengyang, China, who was introduced to Western piano music at age two when watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Tom was playing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #2.
He started lessons at five, and by 14, he was a soloist with China’s National Symphony. The word got out quickly, and within a year he was studying with the legendary Gary Graffman at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute.
When most teenagers were struggling with advanced algebra and ancient history, he was touring as a soloist with major symphony orchestras. After that unexpected breakthrough concert with the Chicago Symphony, the Chicago Tribune called him “the biggest, most exciting young keyboard talent ... encountered in many a year.”
His youthful stardom has also been costly, as a number of critics have found his powerful playing immature and slam bang, and one critic said his power style — with limited sensitivity — “should earn him the nickname of Bang Bang.” But, as he matured, so did his playing.
In that critical decade of maturing, Lang Lang has become a world-class performer, as his youthful power became an instrument of strength and great technique. A dozen CDs, two DVDs and two appearances in motion picture soundtracks (“The Banquet” and “The Painted Veil”) have created a worldwide following for this charismatic performer.
He was chosen by China, his native country, to play for the opening of the 2008 Olympics, and President Obama chose him to play in his adopted country at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
After an interview, NPR’s Morning Edition remarked, “Lang Lang has conquered the classical world with dazzling technique and charisma.” Be there on April 10 and experience him for yourself.
Five days later on April 15, Joshua Bell will perform his violin music with Sam Haywood at the piano. This 42-year-old virtuoso has won everything from a Grammy Award, the Avery Fisher Prize, Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year and was listed as one of People’s Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People.
But there is more to him than a heartthrob who plays a mean fiddle.
Bell is a native of Bloomington, Ind., and his father was a psychologist with the Kinsey Institute. His musical talent was discovered young, and although he graduated from Bloomington North High School, he was already taking private lessons with the best of Indiana University’s violin faculty, including Joseph Gingold.
While his classmates at Bloomington North were struggling through sophomore classes, he made his professional debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 14. Thirty CDs later, he has a professional career that had been highlighted by some extraordinary events. He remains one of the most sought after violinists in the world. He has recorded the great concertos, adapted numerous works for solo violin and appeared in three films, on camera and off.
His January 2007 stunt with Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten made national news: Bell posed as a street musician in one of Washington, D.C.’s Metro stations.
His day of playing for tips netted $32.17 (minus a $20 tip from a passerby who recognized him), a number of comments that he seemed “promising” as a musician, and a Pulitzer Prize for Gene Weingarten.
Come April 15, he will be in full tie and tails to give us an evening of magic with his 1713 Stradivarius. His repertoire is so vast, anyone with an ear for beautiful sounds will find something to like — and if People Magazine is correct, he is quite an eyeful, too.
Sound Off
No comments yet!
Add your comment:
Put a name to your comments! Sign In or Register. Registered users can track their comments in their profile, use avatar images, and participate in forum discussions.