Visiting Artist Series Ends 4th Season with a Bang

04/02/08

Belton, Texas -Violinist Sonja Braaten and cellist Martha Baldwin of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra will be featured at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Hillman Artist Series on Thursday, April 10. The College of Visual and Performing Arts will conclude its celebrated 2007/08 Hillman Visiting Artist season by featuring works by Beethoven, Ravel, and Tchaikovsky. This dynamic program will take place on Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Hughes Recital Hall on the UMHB campus.

The performance opens with Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata, a piece that remains infamous for its wildly demanding violin part. This three-movement composition was named for violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer, who was deemed one of the finest players of Beethoven's day. However, Kreutzer never performed the piece and it's rumored that even he considered it unplayable. Despite the "Kreutzer" Sonata's reputation, Cleveland Orchestra violinist ¬¬¬¬¬Sonja Braaten welcomes this opportunity to tackle all that Beethoven's complex work has to offer.

As the evenings' program progresses, the emotional volatility that defines Beethoven's masterpiece will give way to Ravel's rich textures and poignant melodies. While the mood may seem to lighten, the demands on the musicians will only intensify. The subtle beauty that gives Ravel's music its distinct flavor is deceivingly difficult to master. The delicate interplay between the cello (performed by Cleveland Orchestra cellist Martha Baldwin) and violin is extremely exposed, revealing even the slightest flaws.

To conclude this marathon of musical pyrotechnics, the ensemble will perform Tchaikovsky's Trio in A minor, Op. 50 subtitled In Memory of a Great Artist. Written to commemorate the death of pianist and composer Nikolai Rubinstein, this two movement work immortalizes the grief Tchaikovsky felt after losing his dear friend. The piece, especially the extended second movement, has long been considered the most challenging music Tchaikovsky ever wrote for piano. It demands almost superhuman skill from the player, barely relenting in its ferocity.

Forget any preconceived notions about chamber music-this performance is as far from dainty as it gets. Audiences will witness world-class musicians "show-off" their unparalleled talents in some of the most challenging chamber music ever composed.

This concert is made possible through the generous support of the Helen Frances Hillman Fund for Scholarly Exchange. The Hillman Visiting Artist Recital Series is underwritten by The Helen Frances Hillman Fund for Scholarly Exchange. The fund was established in 1999 by Dr. Jimmye S. Hillman in honor of his wife, Helen Frances Smith Hillman, Mary Hardin-Baylor Class of 1946. The fund was designed to foster scholarly exchange at UMHB, particularly in the area of fine arts, music and languages.

All performances in the Hillman Visiting Artist Series are free and open to the public. For more information please call the College of Visual and Performing Arts at 254-295-4678.

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