By Robert Kalfus
The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra continued its 57th anniversary concert season with a more-than-2-hour-long free concert Feb. 2, featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op.61,” and his “Symphony No.1 in C Major, Op.21.”
Beethoven’s early period was influenced by the music of Haydn and Mozart, but between 1803 and 1810 he wrote a body of work that became the center of his international concert life. The “D Major,” written in 1806, is from Beethoven’s middle period and is considered one of his greatest violin concertos.
“The violin writing is miraculous,” wrote renowned piano Professor David Dubal, who – while comparing Beethoven to Mozart – penned, “Mozart’s numerous sonatas gave the violin… a fraction of what Beethoven asked of the instrument.” With Haydn’s death in 1809, Beethoven became the most famous composer in the world, and his stirring and beautifully evocative music lives to this day to delight us.
Solo violinist Chin Kim is “one of the most versatile and sought-after violinists, acclaimed for this deep musicality and virtuosity.” He has “played extensively throughout North America, Asia and Europe as guest artist with orchestras such as those in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Montreal and Atlanta.” Kim teaches at the Mannes College of Music in New York City, in addition to his busy performance schedule.
Kim, born in 1957 in Korea, moved to the U.S. with his family at 2 years old and educated in music through the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. Responding to a question from the audience, he said he started playing the violin at the age of 9, because of “my mother.”
Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra’s next concert, Sunday, March 29 at 3 p.m., features “Journey to the Far East” with Milhaud Glinka’s “Ruslan and Ludmila Overture,” and Reinhold Glière’s “French Horn Concerto” with David Jolly on the French Horn, and “Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade Op.35.”
The Concerto Competition Winners Concert will take place Sunday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at the Saunders Trade and Technical High School, at 183 Palmer Road, Yonkers.
The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra presents four free concerts each year at Saunders High School, and a free outdoor summer concert at Untermyer Park
For more information on the Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra, and the upcoming concert schedule, call 571-310-7060 or visit www.YonkersPhilharmonic.com. The orchestra seeks people who enjoy hearing beautiful music, volunteers, contributors, supporters and advertisers to keep the free music playing.
