By Lisa Marie Mazzucco
BELLA HRISTOVA
Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. — RUTLAND — The Vermont Symphony Orchestra continues its season with two concerts and a pair of Ludwigs. The first performance will be held at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington on March 19 at 8 p.m. This concert represents the fourth in a series of five finalizing on April 30. The second will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland on March 20 at 3 p.m.
Vermont Symphony Orchestra new music advisor David Ludwig has written a violin concerto for his then fiancée, the incomparable Bella Hristova. Acclaimed for her passionate, powerful performances, beautiful sound, and compelling command of her instrument, violinist Bella Hristova is a young musician with a growing international career as a soloist and recording artist. Her talent has been recently recognized with a prestigious 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant, given to outstanding instrumentalists and based on excellence alone. The Strad has praised, “Every sound she draws is superb,” and the Washington Post’s The Classical Beat has stated she is “a player of impressive power and control.”
David Ludwig’s Violin Concerto was co-commissioned by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, The Louisville Orchestra, Quad City Symphony Orchestra Association, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Rogue Valley Symphony, Westchester Philharmonic, and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. David Ludwig Violin Concerto Consortium Commission was supported by New Music USA, made possible by annual program support and/or endowment gifts.
Hristova gives the world premiere of this work at the concert, limbering up with Dvorak’s “Romance for Violin and Orchestra.” The concert ends happily ever after—with a piece by the other Ludwig, Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony” (which needs no introduction.)
Tickets for the local Rutland concert are available at the Paramount Theatre box office, by calling 802-775-0903, or online at paramountvt.org. The Paramount Theatre is located at 30 Center Street, Rutland.
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra, through the newly created “Student Insiders” program, is offering tickets at no cost to area students for the upcoming Sunday Matinee Series at the Paramount Theatre. Students may obtain free tickets through area school music programs, or get more info at vso.org.
Community business members are sharing in the positive power of the Student Insiders program with sponsorship of the seats. In addition, several members of the Southwest Friends of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra have put forth a challenge to double all contributions. “This is one way that the Vermont Symphony Orchestra can serve the many communities,” suggests executive director Benjamin Cadwallader. “It is important that we focus intensely in our audience diversity. Throwing open our doors to students is a natural first step.”
Early exposure to classical music has been proven to engage children’s emotional, mental, and cognitive development. Thus, exposing students to the concerts will improve the quality of life for children and their parents. This opportunity serves to introduce and/or reinforce children’s interest in music, and strengthens participation in school music programs. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is a firm believer that music is for everyone and takes great pride in its ability to provide the community with the Student Insiders program.
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is the only professional statewide orchestra that provides live musical experiences for listeners in Vermont. It is a state-assisted non-profit institution founded in 1935 and exists for the purpose of fostering and encouraging the appreciation of music in all its various forms, with emphasis on orchestral, choral and chamber music.
