Loading Events

« All Events

Avi Avital & Hanzhi Wang

Sunday, October 22, 2023 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Adult: $65
Student: $17.50
Youth (18 & under): $7.50

This presentation offers general admission seating on a first-come-first-served basis.

Mechanics Hall logo
Music Worcester thanks the following supporters of this presentation:
Mass Cultural Council logo

The Annual Jean McDonough Concert

Music Worcester proudly presents Avi Avital & Hanzhi Wang as the Annual Jean McDonough Concert for our 2023-2024 Season, taking place at the BrickBox Theater in downtown Worcester’s Jean McDonough Arts Center.

The first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy, Avi Avital has appeared several times at Carnegie Hall, and recently with many of the major orchestras throughout North America. Passionate and explosively charismatic in live performance, he is a driving force behind the reinvigoration of the mandolin repertory. Praised for her captivating stage presence and performances that are technically and musically masterful, the groundbreaking young musician Hanzhi Wang is the first accordionist to win a place on the roster of Young Concert Artists in its 58-year history.

PROGRAM

FRITZ KREISLER
Praeludium and Allegro “in the Style of Pugnani”

MOZART
Sonata No. 21, E Minor, K. 304

IGOR STRAVINSKY
Suite Italienne from Pulcinella

GABRIEL FAURÉ
Après un rêve

PABLO DE SARASATE
Spanish Dances Op.22 No.1 Romanza Andaluza

MANUEL DE FALLA
Danse Espagnole No. 1 from “La Vida Breve”

ISAAC ALBÉNIZ
Asturias (Leyenda) accordion solo

HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
Bachiana Brasilieras No. 5 / Aria (Cantilena)

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Read more about each performing artist below:

Avi Avital, mandolin

The first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy, Avi Avital has appeared several times at Carnegie Hall, and recently with many of the major orchestras throughout North America, including with the Symphony orchestras of Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, San Diego, St Louis, Montreal Symphony, Baltimore, and Detroit, and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Passionate and explosively charismatic in live performance, he is a driving force behind the reinvigoration of the mandolin repertory.  “The words “superstar” and “mandolinist” still look odd next to each other. Yet in the classical world they are starting to be joined with some frequency…. Avi Avital was nothing short of electric.” The New York Times

Learn more on Avi’s website at www.aviavital.com

Hanzhi Wang, accordion

Praised for her captivating stage presence and performances that are technically and musically masterful, the groundbreaking young musician Hanzhi Wang is the first accordionist to win a place on the roster of Young Concert Artists in its 58-year history. “If anyone can make the accordion sound like it was created to play classical music, it is the talented and young Ms. Wang.” MD Theatre Guide. “She negotiates the twisted turns and sudden bursts…with carnivalesque vigor and finesse…nothing beats the plaintive lusciousness of Wang’s instrument of choice.” New York Music Daily “Staggering virtuosity that held the audience in a state of breathlessness, as thrilling to watch as to hear.” Oberon’s Grove (Blog)

Learn more on Hanzhi’s website at www.hanzhiwang.org

The Los Angeles Times

“MUCH AS ANDRES SEGOVIA BROUGHT THE CLASSICAL GUITAR INTO THE CONCERT HALL, THE ISRAELI VIRTUOSO AVI AVITAL IS DOING THE SAME WITH THE MANDOLIN.”

On Youtube

Avi Avital

Watch Avi Avital’s videos on YouTube:

Details

Date:
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Time:
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Event Category:

Venue

JMAC
20 Franklin St
Worcester, MA 01608
+ Google Map
View Venue Website

Organizer

Music Worcester