AQUARIAN GENIUS
Sunday, February 9th, 2020, at 5 p.m.

G-SHARP DUO

EMILIE-ANNE GENDRON, violin     YELENA GRINBERG, piano

From the organizer:

Dear Friends!
On Sunday, February 9th, 2020, at 5:00 p.m, Emilie and I invite you all to a special salon in celebration of the AQUARIAN GENIUS, in exploration of the creative link between the astrological sign of Aquarius (January 20th – February 19th) and the concept of Genius in the music of three “Aquarian Genius” composers: Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Schubert. Remarkably, their birthdays are clustered within a week of one another (Jan. 27th, Feb. 3rd, Jan. 31st, respectively) and all three composers died tragically young, while still in their 30s. Thus, the more mind-boggling the level of Genius that they had attained in such a short lifespan! Heralded by Goethe as the “second Mozart,” Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was known for his precocious talent, innate gift for melodic lyricism, and his profound admiration of Bach and Mozart, all on display in his elegiac Violin Sonata in F minor (1823) – the second of his three violin sonatas which demonstrates the brilliancy of his early works, composed when Mendelssohn was just 14 years old (!). A celebrated Aquarian wunderkind, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was famously known for being an “eternal child” who dazzled the European audiences with his prodigious gifts as a keyboard virtuoso. A long concert tour spanning three-and-a-half years, took him to the courts of Munich, Mannheim, Paris, London, Haag, again to Paris, and back home to Salzburg via Zurich and Munich. His sunny Violin Sonata in C Major, K. 296 (1778), composed in Mannheim, opens with an exuberant Allegro vivace, followed by a heavenly slow movement, Andante sostenuto, and concludes with a catchy Rondeau: Allegro, full of instrumental brilliance, wit and humor. Following in the footsteps of Mozart, Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was known for his exceptional talent, having composed over 500 songs in his tragically short lifespan of just 31 years. Besides his extraordinary vocal output, Schubert was a prolific composer of chamber music. His three-movement Violin Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, D. 384 (1816), inspired by Mozart, reflects his bubbly convivial Aquarian personality, being the first of the set of three Sonatinas that he wrote while still in his teens. Schubert was also known for his Aquarian knack for emotional extremes and spiritual contemplation, such as we witness in his impassioned and rarely-performed Rondeau brillante in B minor for violin and piano, D. 895 (1826), with its echoes of a French Baroque overture, which was composed within the final year of his life. Don’t miss this memorable musical journey in tribute to the Aquarian Genius!
Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday, February 9th!
Warmest wishes,

Dr. Yelena Grinberg, founder and artistic director of the Grinberg Classical Salon Series

WHEN: Sunday, February 9th, 2020, at 5 p.m.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.            There will be no late seating.            The salon will be followed by a food-and-wine reception with the guest Artist(s)
WHERE: Private Residence on the Upper West Side (West 90s)
You will be given the exact address after you have registered through Eventbrite
ADMISSION: $38
Admission price includes the wine-and-hors d’oeuvres reception            Attendance is limited to only 21 seats           Advance ticket purchase through Eventbrite is required
CONTACT: Dr. Yelena Grinberg – ygpiano@gmail.com
ARTISTS:
G-SHARP DUO Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin Yelena Grinberg, piano
PROGRAM:
AQUARIAN GENIUS

MENDELSSOHN – Violin Sonata in F minor, op. 4 (1823) MOZART – Violin Sonata in C Major, K. 296 (1778) SCHUBERT – Violin Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, D. 384 (1816) SCHUBERT – Rondeau brillante in B minor for violin and piano, D. 895 (1826)
For more information on Grinberg Classical Salon Series, visit: http://yelenagrinberg.com/grinberg-classical-salon-series/