September 22, 2018 – Lara St. John and Matt Herskowitz

Dear friends,

Lara St. John has been called the “VOLCANIC VIOLINIST” by the Los Angeles Times. She opens the exciting 2018-2019 season of VIRTUOSI CONCERTS on September 22  along with her duo-partner, pianist Matt Herskowitz. It is Lara’s second appearance with us and Matt’s first.

Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad, and a “high powered soloist” by the New York Times. She performs and records works from Bach to Roma music with equal passion and panache. Her Mozart CD won a Juno Award in 2011. “Lara St. John happens to be a volcanic violinist with a huge fabulous tone that pours out of her like molten lava.” (Los Angeles Times) Matt Herskowitz is an all-round Renaissance man – as classical virtuoso, jazz improviser, composer/arranger.The duo’s two CDs include Jerusalem Triology and Shiksa.

In early September, they performed a concert of Eastern European works at Toronto’s 2018 Ashkenaz Festival. Their versatility will be displayed on our stage when they include Beethoven’s magnificent “Kreutzer” Sonata and Ravel’s great 2nd Sonata along with several pieces based on traditional folk melodies in a classical-virtuosic vein. The volcanic lava will flow very freely that night, but no one will be in danger.

Watch and Listen to their truly sensational video called CANADA 151 Proof. They cover 15 diverse musical styles (!)  in 6.5 minutes, pictorially and acoustically, ending with O Canada and an early photo of Lara with Justin Trudeau. It’s spectacular.

On Friday afternoon,  Lara will be teaching a master class for violin students studying at the U of M Desautels Faculty of Music.

And opening the concert, as part of our Young Artist Program will be Sabina Rzazade.

See you Saturday night!