about this event

Stellar violinist Midori and renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet team for this concert of Romantic and early 20th-century masterpieces. While each enjoys a major solo career, Midori and Thibaudet will collaborate on this program featuring scores that challenge both instruments. Schumann’s Sonata No. 1, composed in 1851, represents the Romantic era at its height. George Enescu’s sonata “Romanian folk style” from 1926 calls forth a late-blooming nationalism. Of special interest are two French works that frame the early and final stages of Impressionism: Gabriel Fauré’s A Major sonata from 1876, and Claude Debussy’s final completed work, his sole Violin Sonata from 1917.

Born Midori Goto but known professionally by her first name only, Midori earned the status of prodigy in 1986, when she made her debut at age 14, playing Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade under the composer’s baton. She has since gone on to mature into one of the violin’s most “intense, assured and polished’’ (The Washington Times) virtuosi, as well as an in-demand teacher.

For three decades, Thibaudet has performed and recorded widely, with tours of Asia, Europe and North America to his credit, along with more than 50 albums, including two for which he received Grammy nominations.

program

• Schumann: Sonata No. 1 in A minor
• Faure: Sonata No. 1 in A Major
• Debussy: Violin Sonata
• Enescu: Violin Sonata No. 3 (in “Romanian folk style”)