Joshua Bell in concert with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic
World’s most famous violinist inaugurates new Great Performers Series
(August 23, 2017) – The Fort Wayne Philharmonic opens its 2017-18 Season and inaugurates the brand new Robert, Carrie, and Bobbi Steck Family Foundation Great Performers Series with a special concert featuring the greatest violinist alive, Hoosier native Joshua Bell, on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the historic Embassy Theatre. Bell will perform two works by America’s legendary composer, teacher, and conductor, Leonard Bernstein – his Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”) and “New York, New York” from On The Town.
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Once a year, an incomparable, world-renowned artist will grace the Embassy Theatre stage in concert with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic at the new Robert, Carrie, and Bobbi Steck Family Foundation Great Performers Series. It is fitting that violinist Joshua Bell will inaugurate the new series because of his close ties to the state of Indiana.
“I cannot be more pleased than to invite this stellar musician to our stage,” said Music Director Andrew Constantine. “Joshua Bell is the rare musician who is both a consummate master of his instrument and a poetic storyteller. I am delighted he is our inaugural Great Performer Series artist. Audiences are in for a rare treat!”
Often referred to as a poet of the violin, Bloomington native Joshua Bell has earned the rare title of “classical music superstar” and is one of the most celebrated violinists of his era. A soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and conductor, Bell is also an exclusive Sony Classical artist, having recorded more than 40 CDs and garnered Grammy, Mercury, Gramophone and Echo Klassik awards. He is also a recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize.
Named Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in 2011, Bell is the only person to hold this post since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958. In September 2016, Sony Classical released his newest album, For the Love of Brahms, with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Jeremy Denk.
Bell has collaborated with countless artists in and outside the classical arena and performed on television shows including the GRAMMY Awards, numerous Live from Lincoln Center specials, and on movie soundtracks including the Oscar-winning film, The Red Violin. Bell received his first violin at age four and at 14 performed with Riccardo Muti and The Philadelphia Orchestra, followed by his Carnegie Hall debut at 17.
Perhaps the event that most transformed Bell’s reputation from ‘musician’s musician’ to ‘household name’ was his incognito performance in a Washington, D.C. subway station in 2007 for a Washington Post article that thoughtfully examined art and context. The cover story earned writer Gene Weingarten a Pulitzer Prize and sparked an international firestorm of discussion that continues to this day.
Bell regularly performs with the world’s greatest artists and conductors, and routinely makes recital appearances throughout North America with his recital partner, pianist Alessio Bax, who will appear on the Philharmonic’s Masterworks Series later in the season. Bell performs on the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin.
Program:
Joshua Bell in Concert
Andrew Constantine, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
Elgar Enigma Variations, Op. 36 (Variations on an Original Theme)
Elgar Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39 No. 1, D major
Bernstein Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”)
Bernstein “New York, New York” (From On The Town)
About the Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Entering its 74th season, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s mission is to inspire and foster a lifelong love of symphonic music through performance and education. Music director Andrew Constantine leads the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. All programming is made possible by the support of community individuals, businesses, corporations and foundations. The Phil is a member of the League of American Orchestras and a funded member of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, the Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. For additional information, log on to the website: www.fwphil.org.
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