Kernis' Violin Concerto

Synopsis

In Toronto on today’s date in 2017 violinist James Ehnes gave the world premiere performance of a new violin concerto by the American composer Aaron Jay Kernis. The work was written specially for Ehnes and was a joint commission from orchestras in Toronto, Seattle, Dallas, and Melbourne.

Shortly after the Toronto premiere, Ehnes performed the new concerto in Seattle with the Seattle Symphony and conductor Ludovic Morlot. A live recording of that Seattle performance was released on compact disc and was awarded not one, but TWO Grammy Awards in 2019: it was chosen as “Best Contemporary Classical Composition” and snagged the highly-competitive “Best Classical Instrumental Solo” prize.

The three movements of Kernis Violin Concerto demand incredible virtuosity from the soloist, and Ehnes was up to the challenge. “James Ehnes is a truly spectacular musician and collaborator,” said Kernis. “James took everything I threw at him with good humor and generosity, and made the knuckle-busting passages and everything else I gave him sound absolutely dazzling.”

As part of the commissioning agreement, Ehnes was granted exclusive performing rights of the new concerto for five years – so audiences will have to wait until March 2021 to hear if other violinist choose to tackle the demanding new Kernis Concerto!

Music Played in Today's Program

Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960) Violin Concerto James Ehnes, violin; Seattle Symphony; Ludovic Morlot, cond. Onyx CD 4189

On This Day

Births

• 1714 - German composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (the third son of J.S. Bach), in Weimar;

• 1904 - Greek composer Nikos Skalkottas, on the island of Euboca;

• 1911 - American composer Alan Hovhaness, in Somerville, Mass.;

Deaths

• 1869 - French composer Hector Berlioz, age 62, in Paris;

• 1957 - Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck, age 70, in Zurich;

• 1961 - British conductor and arranger Sir Thomas Beecham, age 81, in London;

• 1983 - English composer and conductor Sir William Walton, age 80, in Ischia;

Premieres

• 1752 - Handel: oratorio "Jephtha," in London (Julian date: Feb. 26);

• 1896 - Rachmaninoff: symphonic fantasy "The Rock," in Moscow (Gregorian date: Mar. 20);

• 1898 - R. Strauss: tone-poem "Don Quixote," in Cologne, Wüllner conducting;

• 1902 - Sibelius: Symphony No. 2, by the Helsinki Philharmonic, with the composer conducting;

• 1903 - Enescu: "Rumanian Rhapsodies" Nos. 1 and 2, in Bucharest, with the composer conducting;

• 1934 - Piston: "Concerto for Orchestra," by the Boston Symphony, Serge Koussevitzky conducting;

• 1954 - Stravinsky: "Three Songs from William Shakespeare," at an "Evenings on the Roof" concert in Los Angeles conducted by Robert Craft;

• 1956 - David Diamond: Symphony No. 6, by the Boston Symphony, Charles Munch conducting;

• 1957 - Xenakis: "Pithoprakta," in Munich;

• 1979 - Rihm: opera "Jakob Lenz," in Hamburg at the Opera stabile (Staatsoper);

• 1991 - Daniel Asia: "At the Far Edge" for orchestra, by the Seattle Youth Symphony, Ruben Gurevich conducting;

• 2000 - Karen Tanaka: "At the Grave of Beethoven" for string quartet, in London, by the Brodsky Quartet;

• 2000 - John Tavener: "The Lord's Prayer," in Guildford (England), by the Tallis Scholars.