Author: Brian Kaplan

Friday, Sep 21, 2018 By Lewis Kaplan Juilliard Journal Bach and Bartók Bach’s Chaconne for solo violin, composed around 1720, is universally regarded as one of the greatest works in Western music. Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Brahms, among others, made arrangements of this masterpiece adding or using the piano as a solo instrument. It is of significant…

Bach Virtuosi Festival adding educational component The Bach Virtuosi Institute will bring 10 young musicians to the city to study. By Bob Keyes In its second year, the Bach Virtuosi Festival this June will add an educational institute for a select group of young musicians and a concert in downtown Portland at Etz Chaim Synagogue,…

A Musical Farewell Bach Virtuosi Festival Episcopal Church of St. Mary, Falmouth June 26, 2016 by Christopher Hyde The Bach Virtuosi Festival closed on a high note Friday, at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary in Falmouth, with stunning performances of three major works and a cameo appearance by Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling, who happens…

Concert review: Bach Virtuosi Festival off to a promising start The inaugural concert draws an impressive roster of musicians. By Allan Kozinn If you know the violinist Lewis Kaplan, you probably also expected that when he gave up the directorship of the Bowdoin International Music Festival after leading it for half a century, he would…

With Bach festival, Portland gives classical music fans a reason to stay close to home The inaugural festival begins June 19. By Bob Keyes Not too many years ago, the best classical music in Maine in the summer could be found anywhere but Portland. Maine’s most revered music festivals occurred on the midcoast, from Brunswick…

Bach Virtuosi Festival Coming Soon Bach Virtuosi Festival June 19-24, 2016 by Christopher Hyde The new Bach Virtuosi Festival, (June 19-24) featuring internationally known artists, the Oratorio Chorale, St. Mary Schola, period instruments, a Bach and beer party at Ocean Gateway, and the Maine premier of a Bach concerto for three violins, is coming up…

I felt compelled to add this wonderful interview with Yo-Yo Ma, my former chamber music student at Juilliard, from Mother Jones Magazine. I enjoyed reading about Yo-Yo’s perspective on introducing young children to playing instruments. Here’s an excerpt and the entire Q&A follows in the continued section. “I was given a violin when I was little…