Local world-class violinists to perform
Robert Garner
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Lifestyles
When two world-class violinists take the stage this Sunday afternoon, the audience will undoubtedly be moved by the gorgeous sounds and sweeping tones of the dazzling instrument.
Er-Gene Kahng and Miho Oda-Sakon will perform together, accompanied by Mark Smidt on piano.
Kahng is a UA assistant professor of music, and Oda-Sakon is an artist in residence at the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas, according to the press release.
The two musicians met when Kahng joined the staff here at the UA, Kahng said.
Their initial plan to perform together last spring did not come to fruition, and the two are excited to finally play together in Fayetteville, she said.
"Due to some scheduling difficulties, I ended up traveling to Tachikawa, Japan, to perform our recital together last April," Kahng said. Sunday's program will be essentially the same, she said.
Even with the Fayetteville performance date set, the rehearsal schedule has been all but ideal for the duo, Kahng said.
Kahng performed with the Monterey Symphony Orchestra of California during Spring Break, which "essentially knocked off 10 days worth of potential rehearsals," she said.
The two, however, were able to practice together everyday before the break and have resumed daily rehearsals upon Kahng's return, she said.
Sunday's program will be rich in meaning and symbolism. Even the instrumentation is a symbol of respect between the two artists.
Kahng said that they decided to evenly split the distribution of primary and secondary violin parts, which will have certain benefits for Sunday's performance.
"This, in fact, is the particular challenge in any duo instrumentation: to achieve unity and equality of sound and interpretation, but include enough differentiation to provide richness and depth of texture," Kahng said.
The duo will begin the performance with Antonio Vivaldi's "Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, op. 3, no. 8, RV 522."
"Vivaldi writes so idiomatically for violin," Kahng said. "It is a joy to play and its melodic beauty (has) always held a special place in my heart."
Er-Gene Kahng and Miho Oda-Sakon will perform together, accompanied by Mark Smidt on piano.
Kahng is a UA assistant professor of music, and Oda-Sakon is an artist in residence at the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas, according to the press release.
The two musicians met when Kahng joined the staff here at the UA, Kahng said.
Their initial plan to perform together last spring did not come to fruition, and the two are excited to finally play together in Fayetteville, she said.
"Due to some scheduling difficulties, I ended up traveling to Tachikawa, Japan, to perform our recital together last April," Kahng said. Sunday's program will be essentially the same, she said.
Even with the Fayetteville performance date set, the rehearsal schedule has been all but ideal for the duo, Kahng said.
Kahng performed with the Monterey Symphony Orchestra of California during Spring Break, which "essentially knocked off 10 days worth of potential rehearsals," she said.
The two, however, were able to practice together everyday before the break and have resumed daily rehearsals upon Kahng's return, she said.
Sunday's program will be rich in meaning and symbolism. Even the instrumentation is a symbol of respect between the two artists.
Kahng said that they decided to evenly split the distribution of primary and secondary violin parts, which will have certain benefits for Sunday's performance.
"This, in fact, is the particular challenge in any duo instrumentation: to achieve unity and equality of sound and interpretation, but include enough differentiation to provide richness and depth of texture," Kahng said.
The duo will begin the performance with Antonio Vivaldi's "Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, op. 3, no. 8, RV 522."
"Vivaldi writes so idiomatically for violin," Kahng said. "It is a joy to play and its melodic beauty (has) always held a special place in my heart."
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