The Devil's Trill

Presented by American Bach Soloists

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 BlumenstockYuEun 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 AthaliaParnasso in festaRadamisto, 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!

Date:
Organization:
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City: San Francisco
Price Range:
$25 to $150

Program Items

George Frideric Handel Trio Sonata in G Major
Giuseppe Tartini Pastorale in A Major
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Trio Sonata in C Minor “Sanguineus & Melancholicus”
Giuseppe Tartini Sonata in G Minor “Il trillo del Diavolo”
Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto in D Minor for 2 Violins

Performers

American Bach Soloists orchestra
Jeffrey Thomas conductor
Elizabeth Blumenstock violin
YuEun Gemma Kim violin
Tatiana Chulochnikova violin
Rachell Ellen Wong violin
Jacob Ashworth violin
Tekla Cunningham violin
Tomà Iliev violin

Herbst Theatre

Herbst Theatre

401 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States