TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — German violinist Arabella Steinbacher is set to perform with Taiwan’s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) on Oct. 6 at the National Concert Hall.
The concert will open with the premiere of “One Minute Symphony,” a work by composer Pan Wen-en (潘汶恩). In the first half of the concert, Steinbacher will join NSO Music Director Jun Markl and the NSO to perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's “Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major.”
The second half will feature Manuel de Falla's ballet score, “The Three-Cornered Hat.” Mezzo-soprano Chen Yu (陳禹) will perform.
The concert features pieces that are not often performed, promising the audience a new listening experience, Markl said. He added the Spanish elements will infuse the listeners with vitality.
Mozart's “Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major” is his final violin concerto, composed at the age of 19. It is considered one of the most significant works of his early maturity, according to Melbourne Recital Center.
The work's unique character is evident in its first movement, which alternates between fast and slow tempos. The finale features a surprising and energetic "Turkish style" element. Elegant melodies blend seamlessly with exotic influences, creating a classic Mozart composition.
Falla's “The Three-Cornered Hat” is a ballet score choreographed by Leonide Massine, per American Ballet Theater. As Markl noted, its music is rooted in flamenco culture and showcases both humor and deep emotions.
Steinbacher is one of our time's leading violinists. She hails from a musical family, her father being a renowned German pianist at the Munich State Opera and her Japanese mother is a talented singer.
At the age of nine, Steinbacher became the youngest student of the celebrated violinist Ana Chumachenko at the Munich Academy of Music. She has since amassed a collection of prestigious awards, including two Echo Classic Awards and the Gramophone Magazine's Editors Choice Award.
