Family of violinists to be featured in Sinfonietta DuPage’s Summer Concert
Join the Sinfonietta DuPage in its summer concert featuring the Arias/Kim family of violinists Bernardo Arias, wife Whun Kim, and daughter, Claire Arias. They will feature the Vivaldi Concerto for Three Violins, and Claire will feature the first movement of Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4.
Also showcased on the concert will be Charles Gounod Symphony No. 1, and Arthur Bird's Suite in D for Ten Winds movement 4.
The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Peace Church, 21W500 Butterfield Road in Lombard. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the concert and tickets are available only at the door. Admission is $22 or $12 for students and seniors, cash or checks only. Information can be found through the SBC website: sinfoniettabelcanto.org. Parking is free and there is ample intimate seating.
The Arias/Kim family is an accomplished musical family. Bernardo Arias is currently a regular substitute violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and performs with Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He is also co-concertmaster of Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, principal second violin of Rockford Symphony Orchestra and former associate concertmaster of the Northwest Indiana Symphony. In addition, he teaches at Merit School of Music and Elgin Community College. Arias received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Juilliard School.
Whun Kim shares the co‑concertmaster position with Bernardo at the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. She will be featured in the Southwest Michigan Symphony production of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” this February at the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph Michigan. Kim is on the faculty of the Midwest Conservatory. Daughter Claire Arias-Kim is a 23-year-old violinist pursuing a M.M. at Juilliard School of Music with Ronald Copes. She also received her B.A. from Juilliard. In past years, she has soloed with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Lacrosse Symphony Orchestra, Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Lakeview Orchestra, and Ottawa Chamber Orchestra. Recently Claire was a featured artist on WFMT’s “Introductions” where she performed a recital that was simulcast live.
Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was born in Paris into a successful artistic family. His father had won the Prix de Rome painting in 1783, and his mother was a talented pianist. Following his father's example, he won the Prix de Rome in 1839. His two symphonies were written in 1855. The first inspired his young pupil, George Bizet, to write his own symphony in C in the same year. Gounod's Symphony No. 1 is vivacious and full of joie de vivre.
Arthur Bird was an American composer, and for many years resided in Germany, where he studied organ and composition with Franz Liszt. Arthur Bird's Suite in D for Ten Winds was commissioned by the flautist Claude Paul Taffenel, conductor for the Opera and the Conservatory Concerts in Paris, for his Society of Wind Instruments. It was composed in mid-1889. The Musical Courier announced on Oct. 30, 1889 that, “Mr. Arthur Bird, the American Bizet … has just finished (the) suite” Bird’s Suite in D is featured in honor of America’s 250th celebration.
Concerto for Three Violins RV551, was composed in 1722, by prolific and inventive Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi. Vivaldi was an ordained priest and call the “Red Priest” because of his hair. While Vivaldi is most famous as a composer, he was regarded as an exceptional technical violinist as well. He became a teacher at the Conservatory of Ospedale della Pieta in Venice, a school for all girls. Over the next 30 years, he composed most of his major works while working there, including more than 400 concertos. At the Conservatory of Ospedale della Pieta, the girls received a musical education, and the most talented among them stayed and became members of the Ospedale's renowned orchestra and choir. At the height of his career, Vivaldi received commissions from European nobility and royalty. In 1722, Vivaldi moved to Rome, where he introduced his operas' new style. The new pope Benedict XIII invited Vivaldi to play for him. In 1725, Vivaldi returned to Venice, where he produced four operas in the same year. It was during this period that Vivaldi wrote the “Four Seasons,” as well as the Concerto for Three Violins.
Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218, was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1775 in Salzburg. He seemed to have originally composed it for himself to play, but after leaving the Salzburg Court Orchestra, he changed and updated the concerto for the successor of his position in his orchestra, Antonio Brunetti to play. The first movement that is being featured by Claire Arias is nicknamed the “military” Mozart Concerto. Mozart composed in every major combination and style. Although many of his works are considered masterpieces in their genre, Mozart had two major achievements in terms of historical impact. These were bringing the classical solo concerto to a peak, and his incredible operatic ensemble finale in his opera buffa.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.