James Ehnes with Orion Weiss

Superstar Canadian violinist James Ehnes joins forces with his longtime duo partner, the celebrated American pianist Orion Weiss, to present a recital of duo repertoire. Ehnes is one of the great violinists on the global stage: a fixture as concerto soloist with orchestras like the New York and London Philharmonics and the Boston Symphony, and recitalist at Carnegie Hall, Verbier Festival and other venues across Europe, Ehnes is a two-time GRAMMY Award-winner with an extensive discography. Weiss is one of the most sought-after concert pianists in the US: a regular soloist with LA and New York Philharmonics, he is renowned for his 'powerful technique and exceptional insight’. For their recital at UKARIA, Ehnes and Weiss offer a rare opportunity for Australian audiences to experience two star soloists in an exceptionally intimate setting.

The lush extravagance of Korngold’s Suite from Much Ado About Nothing is answered with a different kind of cantabile in Brahms’ tender, intimate G major sonata: sometimes referred to as the Regenlied (Rain song) sonata, its first listeners described the work as possessing an atmosphere of ‘resigned reconciliation’.

Following an interval, Ehnes and Weiss travel in time in order to contrast French and Norwegian takes on the violin-piano duo. While the first world war raged, French composer Claude Debussy published his only work for this instrumentation, a sonata he described as ‘full of tumultuous joy’. Mercurial, dream-like, laced with an ardent optimism, the sonata would become Debussy’s last composition. Edward Grieg’s Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano is also the last chamber work the composer penned. Alternating between brooding darknesses and a light-strewn slow movement, the Sonata ends in a jubilant C major – Grieg anticipating Debussy’s ‘joy’.

James Ehnes | Violin
Orion Weiss | Piano

Erich Korngold (1897–1957)
Suite from Much Ado About Nothing, Op. 11 [14']

I. Maiden in the Bridal Chamber
II. March of the Watch (Dogberry and Verges)
III. Garden Scene
IV. Masquerade. Hornpipe

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Sonata No. 1 in G, Op. 78 [25']

I. Vivace, ma non troppo
II. Adagio
II. Allegro molto moderato

INTERVAL

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor, L. 140 [13']

I. Allegro vivo
II. Intermède: Fantasque et léger
III. Finale: Très animé

Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)
Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45 [23']

I. Allegro molto ed appassionato
II. Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza
III. Allegro animato