The LA Philharmonic does not officially call Thursday night’s concert Play with Ray. They are making the centerpiece Vivaldi’s Four Seasons performed by Ray Chen. If you plan on attending Thursday night’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl you will, no doubt, be well aware of the contest going on leading up to the concert: a chance to play one movement from Bach’s Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins with violinist Chen.
As you’ll learn in our interview with Ray Chen later this week, Play with Ray was his idea. Submissions from violinists around the world came pouring in for the chance to perform the Vivace movement with Chen on stage at the Hollywood Bowl.
From those submissions three finalists were named: 13-year-old Adriana Bec from San Antonio, Texas; 22-year-old Youngji Kim of Daegu, South Korea and 17-year-old Laura Kukkonen of Helsinki. All three finalists will perform live early in the week and the performer will be picked for Thursday night’s concert.
The Vivace movement is the first movement of the Bach concerto.
29-year-old Ben Gurnon, the Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, will lead the LA Philharmonic in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Symphony Number 1 in C Minor to open the concert. That will be followed by Play with Ray.
After the intermission, Chen will return to perform The Four Seasons. Vivaldi wrote this work in 1723. It is one of the most popular pieces of classical music of all time. His work has been featured in countless films and television shows including I, Tonya and 11 episodes of The Simpsons.
Composer Max Richter recomposed the work. For those who are curious, you can listen to a re-worked version of The Four Seasons here.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Ray Chen by John Mac/Courtesy of CAMI Music
