Have you been thinking you’d like to try to sit through a classical music concert but haven’t been able to commit? This is THE ONE. There will be no boredom. This is engaging music and more.
Violinist Adrian Anantawan will perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto on the New Philharmonia’s all-Tchaikovsky program on Feb 8 & 9. His musicality is top-notch and his spirit is contagious. If that’s not enough, Adrian was born without a right hand.
Adrian chose to pursue the violin after attempting to engage with the recorder in elementary school. He persevered to attend the exclusive Curtis Institute of Music followed by graduate studies at both Yale and Harvard. Today, he is the director of the Dudamel Orchestra at Boston’s Conservatory Lab Charter School and a key proponent of disabled arts, not to mention an up and coming classical music superstar.
We had our first rehearsal with Adrian last night and it was awesome.
Adrian even did a TED Talk; watch it below and be inspired (in 8 minutes or less)!
New Phil will also perform Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Overture and Francesca di Rimini. Experience all of the emotions through music! This is a great performance to bring children to. The music is accessible and Adrian is a great story of perseverance.
Concerts are Saturday, Feb 8 at 8pm and Sunday, Feb 9 at 3pm at the First Baptist Church in Newton Centre. More information is available at www.newphil.org or just ask me questions in the comments!
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Anyone who can do the Tshaikovsky Violin Concerto (particularly the last movement) has to be extremely talented. This is one I’m not going to miss.
Just got tickets for the 8th of February and it looks like they are going fast.
Thanks Bob! I know I am always excited for our concerts but this one just feels so special. Plan to stay for the reception after the concert so we can say hello!
Dig that TED talk. And I wish I’d met someone like Anantawan when I was in third grade and they made our entire class take violin lessons. For all they taught us, violins existed to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” the way he first demonstrated it. Ugh.
If someone had showed me that the instrument was capable of playing all those other sounds — especially bluegrass — I might have been motivated to practice!
Right on, Greg. We started string lessons in school by playing these glorified plywood and steel string “violins” that turned me off immediately. Thank goodness no one else wanted to play the bass (I felt sorry for the poor lonely instrument) – it was a lucky twist of fate.
Thanks Kara for bringing this to our attention. If you are free this afternoon (Sunday, the 9th), you can do no better than to get to the New Philharmonia’s all Tshaikovsky program at 3 PM in the Baptist Church in Newton Center. This is the last and final performance. Last night’s performance was my first time to the New Phil and the musicians and the program far exceeded all my best expectation, I’m not a professional critic, but this sounded as flawless as any classical performance I’ve ever attended, and there was an intimacy with the orchestra and conductor you just don’t get at Symphony Hall. All the musicians are volunteers who either have full time jobs or are retired. It was fascinating to see how flawlessly and almost casually they interacted with each other and with conductor Ronald Knudson. The performance by violinist Adrian Anantawan was emotional and awesome. I’ve never really seen anything quite like it.
Forgot to mention that the New Phil has three remaining concerts this winter, spring and early summer. See the New Phil’s website that Kara included in her post for details.
Wow Bob – thank you! Your experience was the exact one that we all hope our new audience members have. I loved this performance weekend so much and we were simultaneously energized and drained by the passion that went into it. I shared your comments with Ron and the orchestra. Truly, you made our day. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!