CHAMBER MUSIC: DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL
Overview
Pianist Igor Levit joins musicians of the San Francisco Symphony in a special chamber music program as part of his two-week artist residency in June.
Artists
Piano
Violin
Violin
Viola
First Violin
Viola
Bass
Viola
Cello
Program
Piano
With an alert and critical mind, Igor Levit places his art in the context of social events and understands their inextricable connection. He was named Musical America’s Recording Artist of the Year in 2020 and the Gilmore Artist in 2018. In June 2022 his album On DSCH received the Recording of the Year Award as well as the Instrumental Award from BBC Music Magazine.
Mr. Levit is a regular soloist with the world’s leading ensembles, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Vienna Philharmonic. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in April 2015 as a Shenson Young Artist.
Mr. Levit’s highly acclaimed recording of the 32 Beethoven sonatas received the Gramophone Artist of the Year Award and the Opus Klassik. In spring 2021 Hanser published Mr. Levit’s first book, House Concert, co-authored by Florian Zinnecker. Fall 2022 saw the release of Mr. Levit’s solo album Tristan as well as the release of the documentary Igor Levit—No Fear.
Born in Nizhni Novgorod, Russia, Mr. Levit moved to Germany with his family at age eight. He completed his piano studies in Hannover with the highest score in the history of the institute. Mr. Levit was the youngest participant in the 2005 International Arthur Rubinstein Competition in Tel Aviv, where he won silver, the special prize for chamber music, the audience prize, and the special prize for the best performance of contemporary pieces. In spring 2019 he was appointed professor of piano at his alma mater, the University of Music, Theatre, and Media, in Hanover.
In recognition of his political commitment, Mr. Levit was awarded the 5th International Beethoven Prize in 2019, followed by the award of the “Statue B” of the International Auschwitz Committee in January 2020. His 53 livestreamed house concerts during the spring 2020 lockdown garnered a worldwide audience, offering a sense of community and hope in a time of isolation and despair. In October 2020 Mr. Levit was recognized with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In Berlin, where he makes his home, he plays on a Steinway Model D piano kindly given to him by the Trustees of Independent Opera at Sadler’s Wells.
June 2023
Violin
Dan Carlson joined the SFS in 2006. He currently serves as Principal Second Violin, occupying the Dinner & Swig Families Chair. He previously served as rotating concertmaster for the New World Symphony and he has made solo appearances with the Phoenix Symphony, Chicago String Ensemble, New World Symphony, and the Prometheus Chamber Orchestra. A graduate of the Juilliard School, he has performed chamber music extensively throughout New York. Mr. Carlson performs and teaches with the San Francisco Academy Orchestra.
(November 2019)
Violin
Viola
Katie Kadarauch joined the San Francisco Symphony in 2007 as Assistant Principal Viola. A native of the Bay Area, she was principal viola of the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra and earned a bachelor’s degree and graduate diploma from the New England Conservatory. She also studied at the Colburn School, during which time she performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and recorded film scores. She plays on a Peter Rombouts viola ca.1720, on loan from the SF Symphony.
(11/2022)
First Violin
Melissa Kleinbart, occupant of the Katharine Hanrahan Chair, joined the SFS in 1998 after serving as associate concertmaster with the San Francisco Opera orchestra and assistant concertmaster with the Vancouver Symphony. In addition to solo appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, and New York Symphonic Ensemble, Ms. Kleinbart has been a participant at the Marlboro and Tanglewood music festivals and has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. A graduate of the Juilliard School, she performs and teaches with the San Francisco Academy Orchestra.
(September 2018)
Viola
Bass
Viola
Jonathan Vinocour joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Viola in 2009 and was previously principal viola of the St. Louis Symphony and guest principal of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Chicago Symphony. He has frequently soloed with the SF Symphony and has also played concertos with the St. Louis Symphony, La Jolla Music Society, Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and New World Symphony. With NWS, he is also a frequent coach and was a featured artist at their Viola Visions Festival alongside Tabea Zimmerman, Kim Kashkashian, Roberto Diaz, and Cynthia Phelps.
As a chamber musician, Mr. Vinocour is a regular guest of the Seattle Chamber Music Society, La Jolla Music Society SummerFest, Marlboro Music Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Salt Bay Chamberfest, and ChamberFest Cleveland. His chamber music partners have included Yefim Bronfman, Yo-Yo Ma, Augustin Hadelich, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Igor Levit, and James Ehnes, among others. He also performs frequently on the SF Symphony Chamber Music Series and as a recitalist around the country.
Mr. Vinocour graduated from Princeton University with a degree in chemistry and from New England Conservatory, where he studied with Kim Kashkashian. An active and dedicated teacher, he serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as the Aspen Music Festival and School. He plays on a 1784 Lorenzo Storioni viola on loan from the SF Symphony.
(1/2024)
Cello
Born and raised in San Francisco, he was a member of the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra and San Francisco Boys Choir. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School and now serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the San Francisco Academy Orchestra.
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