The four, Gabriella Rose Makuc, pianist, Jullian Müller, cellist, Morwenna Boyd, guitarist, and Yevgeny Kutik, violinist, proved that youth is where great talent begins. Young performers seem to have no fear and play where angels fear to tread.
Gabriella, myself, Morwenna and Julian
Gabriella opened the program with Bach's 'Prelude and Fugue in C major, played with clarity and musicality, followed by Liszt's 'Sonetto 104 del Petrarco', which she played with touching sentiment and limpid tone.
Julian played the Allegro movement of the Dvorak 'cello concerto with bravura, marvelous intonation, and passion. He then played a transcription of Chopin's 'Nocturne in C sharp minor' by Gregor Piatigorsky. His timbre on the instrument is meltingly beautiful. He plays with consummate musicality and emotion. He was accompanied by the excellent pianist Anne Chamberlain.
Morwenna played several guitar pieces with delicacy or furor, as needed, beginning with 'Asturias' of Albeniz, followed by 'Prelude #4 in E minor' by Villa-Lobos, Baila de Gato Rojo, which she wrote. and ending with 'Estudios Secillos' by Leo Brouwer.
Kathleen Callahan, performing as a guest artist on the program, sang 'Come scolio' from Cosi fan tutti, of Mozart, 'Ain't it a pretty night' from Carlisle Floyd's Susanna and 'Vissi d'arte' from Puccini's Tosca. Her impassioned performance led to an ovation.
After the Intermission, Yevgeny Kutik took the stage- in every sense of the word. This incredible young violinist has been conquering the world of music every since John Ferris and I first heard him nine years ago. Accompanied by the estimable pianist, Timothy Bozarth, he performed a Beethoven Sonata and a Lutoslavski work that was dazzling in its scope and technical bravura.Yevgeny is the nearest thing to Heifetz I have heard in my many years of listening to violinists. He recently returned from concerts in Rostock, Germany with the Norddeutsche Philharmonic and at the Lobkowicz palace in Prague. On Friday evening he played to a sold-out house at the Embassy Series in Washington, DC. Words fail me when trying to detail the power and scope of his performance. He wipes me out!!
Yevgeny, myself, Tim
These wonderful young artists are all under the wing of the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation, which benefited from the proceeds of this concert. It has been our aim to help young classical musicians in their education and careers.
I think we have made remarkable choices with our performers. Bravi a tutti!
