Dark Passion
Saturday, February 7th, 2015 at 8pm, Showplace (290 George St. North)
Pre-concert “Meet the Maestro”Chat begins at 7:10pm
GUEST ARTISTS: Jerzy Kaplanek, violin and Christine Vlajk, viola
Tickets: $39.50/36.50/28.50 for Adults | $15 for Students & Rush Seats | $15 for Tweet Seats (#psolive) | $5 for eyeGO
On Saturday, February 7th the Peterborough Symphony will bring the play of light and darkness to the stage with Dark Passion.
Featured artists Jerzy Kaplanek and Christine Vlajk of the internationally renowned Penderecki String Quartet will weave together a tapestry of light and sound that is divinely Mozart in his Sinfonia Concertante; a perfect counterpoint for Tchaikovsky’s passionate and timeless 6th symphony.
One of the most loved pieces of music is certainly Tchaikovsky's sixth and last symphony, known as the "Pathétique". It is a very deep emotional journey, which ties in love, passion, regret and tragedy. Because it is so personal and direct, it creates tremendous impact on all who come into contact with it - listeners and musicians alike. Tchaikovsky himself conducted its first performance, but only six days later he was found dead at his home during a cholera outbreak. No stranger to hidden passions, scholars have long discussed the impact his sexual orientation had on his work and the possible negative consequences for him professionally as well as consequences for his family.
Mozart's Symphonie Concertante for solo violin, solo viola and orchestra is a work that is almost at the opposite end of the spectrum to Tchaikovsky's "Pathétique". It is, in many ways, one of the most 'perfect' pieces of music ever written. A true dialogue between musicians, it covers all shades of the human experience, but in an Apollonian sense, as opposed to the Dionysian, Tchaikovskyan manner.
“We are thrilled to go on this journey with two fabulous soloists,” says Music Director Michael Newnham.
Violinist Jerzy Kapłanek has established himself internationally as a chamber musician, member of the celebrated Penderecki String Quartet, soloist, dedicated teacher, adjudicator, artistic director of QuartetFest and lately as a jazz violinist.
He performs throughout Europe, Asia, and North and South America over 80 concerts each season. His recently released album of works by Karol Szymanowski with pianist Stéphan Sylvestre was highly praised by The Strad magazine as “an outstanding release”. His discography with the Penderecki Quartet comprises over two dozen CD’s (Marquis, Eclectra, CBC, CMC, EMI labels), including the highly acclaimed recording of the complete string quartets of Béla Bartók,.
Jerzy Kapłanek is presently an Associate Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where since 1991 he has been teaching violin and chamber music. He frequently gives master classes in Canada and abroad.
Mr. Kaplanek performs on a 1680 Antonio Casini violin made in Modena, Italy.
Christine Vlajk has performed on major concert stages around the world with her dynamic performance style including New York’s Weill Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall, 92nd Street Y and Kennedy Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw to name a few.
She has held the positions of violist of the Penderecki String Quartet and Artist-in-Residence in viola and chamber music at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, since 1997. She has received prizes at the Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition, the Coleman Chamber Music Competition and the Carmel Chamber Music Competition as well as Prize for Best Contemporary Performance in the Evian International String Quartet Competition. She was granted the Friedlander Fellowship from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory.
She has been guest soloist with the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and has performed recitals in Canada, the United States and Germany, premiering viola concertos by Piotr Grella-Mozejko and Karol Gostynski in recent years. As an orchestral player she has held the positions of Principal Violist of the West Virginia Symphony and Assistant Principal of the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra as well as participating in the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival. Dedicated to the education of young people, she performed an extensive series of children’s concerts in numerous small communities across Canada and the United States and has given master classes at Yale University, Indiana University, Florida State University, University of Toronto, SUNY Fredonia and the Glenn Gould Professional School.
As a member of the Penderecki String Quartet and the Montclaire Quartet Ms. Vlajk has recorded for the Koch, Leonarda, Eclectra, Marquis Classics and EMI labels.
Single tickets are currently on sale at Showplace Box office by calling them at (705) 742-SHOW (7469) or online at Showplace.org. For more information about this concert or the Peterborough Symphony, visit their website at www.thepso.org.
