Give Now  »

The Romance of Barnabas, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic

David Bowden, the conductor and artistic director of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic says "Violinist Barnabas Kelemen and I share a passion for the music of Johannes Brahms. "

"The performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto will be based on recent scholarship that moves away from the stodgy and the luxuriantly broad to one of gesture, of drama and transparency."

Kelemen notes that "The first two movements of this concerto are really chamber music. I'm very much dependent on orchestral soloists as we comment on one another."

"Although, as David says we are looking for a modern informed approach, my cadenza comes from the great romantic violinist Joseph Joachim. He was an intimate friend of Brahms and worked with him."

Kelemen's wife Kati Kokas usually plays the violin, but for the Mozart "Sinfonia Concertante", she'll play the viola to partner with her husband. "I actually prefer the violin, but when there's a chance to play with Barnabas, I find many reasons to like the richer low sounds of the viola."

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic conducted by David Bowden presents Brahms Violin Concerto with Barnabas Kelemen and the Sinfonia Concertante by Mozart with violinist Kelemen and his wife, violist Kati Kokas, at 7:30 in Erne Auditorium Saturday April 25, 2009.

Support For Indiana Public Media Comes From