Violin Virtuosos's guest appearances

Violin Virtuosos

Lives Less Ordinary

The Concert - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Bassem Youssef

John Dwayne Bunn

Cameron Diaz

Derren Brown

Larry Nassar

James Rhodes

Joseph Kony

Andy McNab

Tyler Perry

Greg Louganis

Marlon Brando

Nicola Benedetti

Bettye LaVette

Phil Collins

Mary Wilson

OwlTail

Tito Quiroz used to wave up at the inmates of the prison next door to his university in Ensenada, Mexico, and they'd wave back from their cell windows. Then, one day, he got the opportunity to go inside to teach them his passion, the violin. Tito endured the somewhat intimidating atmosphere inside, and found an audience desperate to learn. One man in particular would use the music he was imbued with to turn his life around. Image: Tito Quiroz Credit: Clayton Conn

Tito Quiroz used to wave up at the inmates of the prison next door to his university in Ensenada, Mexico, and they'd wave back from their cell windows. Then, one day, he got the opportunity to go inside to teach them his passion, the violin. Tito endured the somewhat intimidating atmosphere inside, and found an audience desperate to learn. One man in particular would use the music he was imbued with to turn his life around. Image: Tito Quiroz Credit: Clayton Conn

How I turn prisoners into violin virtuosos

Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23 (March 14, 2004)Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 ("Kreutzer") (October 12, 2003)The “Kreutzer” Sonata is loved by audiences for its thrilling range of emotions and displays of technical daring. For violinists, though, the piece is extremely difficult. Beethoven was urged to write the piece by English violinist George Bridgetower, and the two played the premiere together. Beethoven was so thrilled with Bridgetower’s playing that he actually ran across the stage to embrace him in between movements in the middle of the concert. Elated with their successful debut, Beethoven dedicated the piece to Bridgetower after the recital. Later that evening, though, Bridgetower made a disparaging remark about a woman Beethoven knew. Enraged, Beethoven withdrew the dedication, instead dedicating the piece to Rudolphe Kreutzer, a famous Parisian violin virtuoso, giving the sonata the name it’s had ever since. Ironically, though, Rudolphe Kreutzer never actually performed the “Kreutzer” sonata. Upon receiving the manuscript in Paris, he declared the piece impossible to play. In this program, we’ll hear violinist Corey Cerovsek prove him wrong.

<ul><li>Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 4 in A minor, Op. 23 (March 14, 2004)</li><li>Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 ("Kreutzer") (October 12, 2003)</li></ul>The “Kreutzer” Sonata is loved by audiences for its thrilling range of emotions and displays of technical daring. For violinists, though, the piece is extremely difficult. Beethoven was urged to write the piece by English violinist George Bridgetower, and the two played the premiere together. Beethoven was so thrilled with Bridgetower’s playing that he actually ran across the stage to embrace him in between movements in the middle of the concert. Elated with their successful debut, Beethoven dedicated the piece to Bridgetower after the recital. Later that evening, though, Bridgetower made a disparaging remark about a woman Beethoven knew. Enraged, Beethoven withdrew the dedication, instead dedicating the piece to Rudolphe Kreutzer, a famous Parisian violin virtuoso, giving the sonata the name it’s had ever since. Ironically, though, Rudolphe Kreutzer never actually performed the “Kreutzer” sonata. Upon receiving the manuscript in Paris, he declared the piece impossible to play. In this program, we’ll hear violinist Corey Cerovsek prove him wrong.

9. Beethoven's Violin Virtuosos