From Dvořák and Gershwin to a selection of Asian, American, and European works – as well as Iskander’s own compositions – themed around romance. Accompanied by pianist Miki Aoki. Join for a special Valentine’s Day musical evening.

PROGRAM

Kreisler: Präludium & Allegro
Grieg: Sonata No.3 in c minor
F. Chopin: Nocturne c sharp minor (arr. Milstein)
Dvořák: Romantic Pieces
P. Tchaikovsky: Valse- scherzo op.34

intermission

E. John: Can you feel the love tonight
J. Kuhn: Colors of the wind
E. Sheeran: Perfect
I. Widjaja: Spirited away
I. Widjaja: Lacrimae
Yiruma: Kiss the rain
Yiruma: River flows in you
Hisaishi: Princess Mononoke – Legend of Ashitaka
Hisaishi: Howls moving castle – Merry go round of life
Gershwin: Concert Fantasy on Porgy and Bess

ABOUT

Labeled both as “Worldclass-Violinist” (Stuttgarter Zeitung) and “Rockstar” (The Jakarta Post), Iskandar Widjaja connects worlds. The son of Arabic-Dutch and Chinese-Indonesian parents grew up with classical music and has performed as a soloist with internationally renowned ensembles such as the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester and Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin; the Munich, Warsaw and Shanghai Philharmonics; Sydney Symphony; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Simultaneously, he has developed a parallel showbiz career in East Asia, with regular TV appearances and many related activities.

He entered the Berlin “Hanns Eisler” conservatoire as an extraordinary student at the age of eleven. Awarded many international prizes even as a teenager and while studying, he has worked with the great names of classical music such as Zubin Mehta, Christoph Eschenbach, Rolando Villazón, Cameron Carpenter, David Foster, Anggun, Itamar Golan and Fazil Say in halls such as the Elbphilharmonie; Philharmonie and Konzerthaus Berlin; Tonhalle Zurich; Shanghai Cultural Arts Center; Hong Kong City Hall; or the Tel Aviv Opera House. He is also often to be seen at mass-media events ranging from the Davis Cup, EXPO Milan, and Fashion Week in Paris to the world premiere in Vienna’s Konzerthaus of the suite for violin and orchestra “Across the Stars” from Star Wars.

Miki Aoki is widely recognized for her diverse abilities as a pianist and collaborative artist. A frequent guest artist in prestigious concert series and festivals around the world, Ms. Aoki made her debut at age of 12 at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s South Bank Centre as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Aoki has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall in New York City, St. Martin-in-the Fields, St. John’s Smith Square, the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room at South Bank Centre, the Barbican centre, Blackheath Halls (UK), Laeizhalle Hamburg, Gasteig München, Philharmonie Essen, Beethovenssal Hannover (Germany), Philia Hall, Munetsugu Hall (Japan), Wiener-Saal (Austria), St-Petersburg Philharmonic Hall (Russia) as well as in festivals such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommen, Salzburger Festspiele, Rheingau Festival (Germany), Menuhin Festival Gstaad (Switzerland), International Chamber Music Festival Silver Lyre (Russia), Beaulieu-sur-la Mer (France), Valdres Festival (Norway), Copenhagen Summer Music Festival (Denmark), Steirisches Kammermusik Festival (Austria), Tertis International Viola Competition and Festival (Isle of Man), Tembi Festival (Indonesia), Phnom Penh International Music festival (Cambodia) and the International Classical Music Festival (Myanmar).

For more information about the event, visit dvoraknyc.org.

This event is organized by the Dvorak American Heritage Association with support of the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association.