Few works evoke the expectation of demonic virtuosity in the same way as does Tartini's “Devil's Trill” sonata. The Venetian-born violinist and composer famously wrote about a dream in which the devil appeared to him, took up Tartini's violin, and played "with such great art and intelligence, as I had never even conceived in my boldest flights of fantasy" that, upon awakening, he tried to recreate what he heard. The “Devil's Trill Sonata” was the outcome and it is notorious for its technical difficulty.
ABS violinists Tatiana Chulochnikova and Jacob Ashworth take up the charge in this "duo/duel" concert of bravura works, each artist presented in solo works by Tartini. Elizabeth Blumenstock, YuEun Gemma Kim, and Rachell Ellen Wong will perform a pair of famous duos: Handel's Trio Sonata in G Major is replete with familiar tunes from his operas Athalia, Parnasso in festa, Radamisto, and Alcina. C.P.E. Bach's extraordinary Trio Sonata in C Minor was composed for the court of Frederick the Great and portrays a conversation between a "sanguine man" and a "melancholic," but positive optimism wins out!
The concert's finale is Bach's exciting Concerto in D Minor for 2 Violins performed by Tekla Cunninghamand Tomà Iliev. So, "fasten your seatbelts" for a thrilling ride!