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" Few local presenters are as committed to furthering the careers of today's best young musicians as Music in the Loft . . . . ." John von Rhein , Chicago Tribune |
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GARY LEVINSON, violin
Violinist Gary Levinson has been praised worldwide by critics for his intense musicality and formidable technique. In the 2007-08 seasons he will tour throughout the United States with flutist Eugenia Zukerman and pianist Adam Neiman as a member of Trio Virtuosi. He has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Christopher O'Riley and Anne-Marie McDermott.
A champion of contemporary music, Mr. Levinson premièred several seminal works dedicated to him by the Iranian composer Behzad Ranjbaran. He recorded two discs for CALA records collaborating with Eugene Levinson, the legendary double bassist and principal bass of the New York Philharmonic.
Mr. Levinson was the driving force behind the Bernstein Festival at Orchestra Hall in Minnesota where he performed the composer's Serenade as a soloist. He has performed the Serenade frequently, most recently with the Dallas Symphony. He will be part of a Koch recoding of some chamber music works by Geroge Tsontakis.
From 1997-2001, Mr. Levinson was first violinist of the Elysium String Quartet. During his tenure, ESQ released two discs. The first was the critically acclaimed all-Mozart CD with three New York Philharmonic principals: Stanley Drucker, clarinet; Joseph Robinson, oboe, and William Kuyper, French horn. The second disc was in collaboration with pianist/composer Lukas Foss. For New World Records, Mr. Levinson recorded David Del Tredici's Haddock's Eyes, conducted by Zubin Mehta. His latest CD, My New York Years, was released in January 2007.
Born into a musical family in St. Petersburg, Russia, Gary Levinson began studying violin at age 5 with Boris Sergeev. After his family immigrated to the United States, he made his U.S. debut at the age of 13 with the Minnesota Orchestra. Having won virtually all of the competitions in the American Midwest, Mr. Levinson went on to capture the top prize at the Romano Romanini International Violin Competition in Italy.
He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at The Juilliard School where he was a protégé of Dorothy DeLay and Glenn Dicterow. At the age of 23, Mr. Levinson made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic. He frequently performs with the Israel Philharmonic at the special request of Zubin Mehta.
Mr. Levinson performs on a 1726 Stradivarius, graciously provided for his use by the Dallas Symphony Association.
ADAM NEIMAN, piano
American pianist Adam Neiman is recognized as an artist of rare depth, sensitivity and virtuosity. With a repertoire that spans over fifty concertos, Neiman has performed as soloist with the symphony orchestras of Belgrade, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, San Francisco, Umbria, and Utah, as well as with the New York Chamber Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington D.C. He has collaborated with such conductors as Jiri Belohlavek, Carlos Kalmer, Uros Lajovic, Yoël Levi, Andrew Litton, Peter Oundjian, Leonard Slatkin, and Emmanuel Villaume. Known for his diverse recital programs, Neiman has toured throughout North America, playing in the major halls of La Jolla, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, Vancouver, Washington D.C., and at Caramoor and Ravinia. He has also given recitals in France, Germany, Italy, and Japan where he made an eight-city tour culminating in his debut at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall.
Adam Neiman’s 2006-2007 season highlights include his debut with the Detroit Symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto under the direction of Edwin Outwater, as well as three major solo appearances at New York’s Lincoln Center: a performance of Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra with the Riverside Symphony at Alice Tully Hall; a solo recital on the Great Performer’s series at Walter Reade Theater; and a performance of Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 2#3 on the Great Performer’s series “What Makes it Great”, also at Walter Reade Theater. In addition, Neiman performed and recorded three early Mozart keyboard concertos with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and he opened the Seattle Chamber Music Society’s “Winter Interlude” at Benaroya Hall with a performance of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”.
Neiman has begun to build a widely varied discography, commencing in 2005 with his first major recording: a two-disc set entitled “Adam Neiman Live in Recital” featuring works by Bach, Chopin, Schumann, Fauré, and Rachmaninoff, released by VAI Audio. His second recording for VAI, a DVD/CD entitled “Adam Neiman: Chopin Recital”, was released in November of 2006. Future releases include the aforementioned disc of Mozart’s early keyboard concertos K. 238, 246, and 271 for VAI with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the world premiere CD recording of Jennifer Higdon’s Piano Trio for Naxos. Neiman’s playing has also been included on two multi-pianist compilations for VAI: the 2-CD set entitled “Masters of the Keyboard: The Next Generation, Vol. 2” featuring his live performance of Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Sonata, and a DVD of the same title featuring Neiman’s performance of his own original composition called “Concert Etude”, as well as Chopin’s Barcarolle and Etude Op. 25#11.
PROGRAM Sonata No. 1 in A Major - - - - - Gabriel Faúre "The Procession" - - - - - - Matthew Tommasini Two Melodies - - - - - - Prokofieff Sonata No. 3 in D Minor - - - - - - Brahms |