Carte Blanche Concert I

Kristin Lee, violin; and Michael Stephen Brown, piano

“The rich diversity of American society has fostered a vibrant tapestry of musical voices, each shaped by their own distinct backgrounds. Michael and I curated this program for violin and piano to celebrate that spirit of innovation and cultural exchange, highlighting works composed during the twentieth century. We begin with Fritz Kreisler’s Praeludium and Allegro, a lush reimagining of Baroque melody. Charles Ives follows with his inventive Violin Sonata no. 4, blending hymns, folk tunes, and bold harmonies to create a vibrantly eclectic soundscape of American life. The first half closes with Ernest Bloch’s Violin Sonata no. 2, Poème mystique, which shifts to a more introspective tone, offering profound emotional depth rooted in his Jewish heritage. The second half opens with John Adams’s Road Movies, a rhythmic portrayal of contemporary life, and continues with Amy Beach’s Romance for Violin and Piano, honoring one of America’s pioneering female composers. We conclude with Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess Suite, a brilliant fusion of classical and jazz traditions–a testament to the cultural mosaic of twentieth-century American music.”
—Kristin Lee