Summertime with Beethoven: Vivaldi, Gershwin, and the 'Spring Sonata'

Summertime with Beethoven:
Vivaldi, Gershwin, and the 'Spring Sonata'

MUSICIANS:
Orpheus Leander – Violin
Gina Kruger – Piano

This concert can be viewed online by clicking the three links below (or copying into your browser)

PROGRAM NOTES:

Vivaldi (1678-1741) modelled his concerti on sonnets, and Summer describes the heat, with shepherds present and birds calling. Gentle breezes blow...a storm is approaching, heard in the rumbling of the adagio. The heads are cut off the grain as hailstones fall.

Beethoven's Spring Sonata (written 1800) flirts with heavier gestures at times than his earlier works, yet the freshness of the gentle melodious nature is in keeping with more lyrical works composed during the end of his first period. This is his first violin sonata to include a fourth

LINKS:

Part 1 = Vivaldi Summer Op.8 Number 2 Beethoven Spring Sonata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbTgoLTA3UU&feature=youtu.be7 / 7:18

Part 2 - Beethoven Rondo from Spring Sonata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlYMy4xME48&feature=youtu.be

Encore: Summertime by Gershwin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHi4J9BvKU&feature=youtu.be

We hope you enjoy the performance. We hope to continue to bring concerts into your home (until you can come to ours).

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BIOGRAPHIES

Orpheus Leander performs as a soloist, leader of the Orfeas String Quartet and is the artistic director of the Music of the Spheres Ensemble. His performances have taken him to Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Orpheus studied at the Royal Academy of Music who awarded him a scholarship to further his solo studies with Carmel Kaine in Australia.

High points include performing Mozart Violin Concerto No 5 with the Music of the Spheres Ensemble, Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the UK, Greece, Austria and China, Beethoven's Violin Concerto, and the World Premier of A Greek in New York, Concerto for Violin and Chamber Ensemble by Denise Mangiardi, written for Orpheus. Solo tango violinist with the Balletboyz in the Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre, playing with the Philharmonia Orchestra, recital tours to China and Europe and performing for her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

As a soloist he has shared the stage with violists Yuri Zhislin and Andriy Viytovych principal Violist, Royal Opera House Covent Garden. His recital partners include internationally acclaimed pianist Alberto Portugheis.

In March 2011 Orpheus gave a series of performances of The Lark Ascending touring England with the generous support of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Charity. In 2016 he made his Austrian debut to critical acclaim in Vienna performing The Lark Ascending. He has premiered works written for him by amongst others Theodoros Haridis, Aziza Sadikova and Alla Sirenko.

In 2019 his debut CD as a soloist ‘Colours of Europe’ was released to good reviews, with works by Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Dinicu, Sadikova and Sarasate.

“ …a penetrating account of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto ... a commanding soloist of great breadth and sensitivity. A particularly interesting facet was Orpheus’s choice of first movement cadenza - partly recomposed from the familiar Kreisler cadenza, with spontaneous additions: an engrossing aspect of a very successful performance” Robert Matthew - Walker - Musical Opinion.

Gina Kruger studied piano at the Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University, and The Juilliard School, New York before completing a post-graduate diploma at the Royal College of Music, London. Gina performs frequently as a soloist and accompanist across the UK, and as an accompanist at RCM, RAM and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.