Violinist Joshua Bell doesn’t spend as much time performing with symphony orchestras today as he does playing chamber music and intimate recitals. Wednesday’s concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall is an example of that. He’s joined by pianist Alessio Bax.
Bell has been playing the violin professionally for three decades. And somehow he still maintains a boyish appearance. But those years of experience have lead him to a worldwide career as both a musician and a Music Director (currently at the Academy of St. Martins-in-the-Fields.) If you heard and loved the soundtrack to The Red Violin, you were listening to Bell.
Bax, an Italian pianist, also began his career at a rather young age. His recordings regularly earn Gramophone Editor’s Choice selections. Bax has recorded the works of Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Bach, Scriabin and many more. He is married to pianist Lucille Chung and has recorded with her.
The program for this recital includes Schubert’s Rondo in B minor; Franck’s Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano; Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 4 in C Minor and Ysaÿe’s Violin Sonata in D Minor, Op. 27, No. 3 “Ballade.” Additional selections are scheduled to be announced from the stage.
Bell will be signing CDs after the performance. Bax, who is apparently quite a foodie, will probably be having a great meal somewhere (or fixing one himself.)
Tomorrow we will have an interview with Joshua Bell. Be sure to check back for that.
For tickets go here.
Bell and Bax will also be performing at Stanford Live on November 1st, at Mondavi Arts in Davis on November 2nd and the Ventura Music Festival in Oxnard on November 3rd.
Photo of Joshua Bell by Benjamin Ealovega courtesy of Joshua Bell
Photo of Alessio Bax by Marco Borggreve courtesy of Alessiobax.com