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.
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
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)
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:
