POSTPONED: VISIT WWW.CONCERTSINTHEVILLAGE.ORG - APRIL 26TH - SOLO JOURNEYS WITH BACH

Start: Saturday, April 26, 2025 3:00PM
End: Saturday, April 26, 2025 4:45PM

On Saturday, April 26th Concerts in the Village offers its 60th concert with important solo works of J. S. Bach: The Goldberg Variations, a genuine milestone in the entire history of music, and the intensely transparent Sonata No. 1 for solo violin. For these two journeys CITV welcomes pianist Sophia Zhou, and Broad Street Orchestra Concertmaster Elizabeth Silver.

Of all his brilliant compositions for keyboard, none presents Bach's emotional power and the creative genius of his writing more completely than The Goldberg Variations. An opening theme of striking simplicity, although uncertain origin, is subjected to 30 reworkings, no two of which are alike. The demands upon the player, including exceptional virtuosity and relentless concentration, are legendary in the annals of keyboard performance. And in the end, when all comes magically together with the memorable return of the opening, the listener fully appreciates the very special journey he has taken.

Bach's deservedly well-known first sonata for solo violin is equally fascinating for the listener. As with The Goldberg Variations attention is drawn to both performer virtuosity and compositional beauty. Throughout the sonata's four movements Bach ingeniously balances both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of his writing, a feature present in each of his sonatas and partitas for violin. Neither harmony (the vertical dimension) nor counterpoint (the horizontal dimension) takes precedence. When performed with clarity and directness - no modest achievement - the listener's experience is not easily forgotten.

For CITV, pianist Sophia Zhou (www.sophiazhoupiano.com) is a returning artist. Her widely recognized talent has taken her throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, and the major concert halls of America. Violinist Elizabeth Silver is well-known to regional audiences, as a regularly performing soloist, chamber musician and member of the Albany Symphony and Glimmerglass Orchestras.

CITV Artistic Director David Smith comments, "I am especially pleased that for our 60th concert we will be offering these important solo works by Bach - performed by two remarkably sensitive and experienced artists in the perfect acoustics of Kinderhook's Van Buren Hall. What a fine celebration it will be!"

Van Buren Hall, 6 Chatham Street, Kinderhook NY 12106. Lift available.

Suggested contribution $ 25, with students and children free.

For further information visit www.concertsinthevillage.org and follow CITV on Facebook.

Price:
Suggested contribution: USD 25.00