The Quintessential Virtuoso Violin

This concert was rather unusual in that it was a traditional violin recital featuring standard repertoire. Outmoded? You must be kidding! Think retro. Think vintage. And like vinyl, cool again!  Arturo Delmoni delivered the quintessential virtuoso violin recital, partnered by the superb pianist Li-Pi Hsieh. It was utterly refreshing in that there were no gimmicks, no quotas to fill.  It was simply great music played with superlative technique and supreme expression. One of our friends commented that Arturo plays so naturally, it’s as if he was born holding a violin.

His program opened with Sonata in E Major by Pugnani and was followed by Beethoven’s beloved Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, “Spring.”  Then came Grieg’s lesser known Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, a stunningly beautiful work that drew the audience to its feet.  Following intermission came Hexapoda: Five Studies in Jitteroptera, a delightful suite of five jazzy pieces written by Robert Russell Bennett in 1940 sporting such titles as “Gut-Bucket Gus,” “Jim Jives,” and “___Till Dawn Sunday.” Of course, no proper virtuoso violin concert would be complete without a set favorite short works, and Arturo Delmoni did not disappoint. He chose Hungarian Dance in f minor (Brahms-Kreisler), Song Without Words, “Sweet Remembrance” (Mendelssohn-Heifetz), Legend of the Canyon (Cadman), Claire de Lune (Debussy), Mazurka, “Dudiarz” (Wieniawski), and Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34 (Tchaikovsky).  Naturally, an encore was demanded, and Arturo offered Prighiera of Heifetz, so touchingly played, we were nearly reduced   to tears.

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