Sound of Charlotte Blog
Why Gil Shaham Calls Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto “Iconic”
September 3, 2025
When Gil Shaham takes the stage with the Charlotte Symphony for our Annual Gala Concert on September 18, he'll perform one of the most beloved works in the violin repertoire: Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major.
Shaham has loved the piece since childhood, when he first discovered a recording by Isaac Stern. "I used to listen to that...over and over," he recalls. Today, he counts the concerto among the defining works of the violin literature:
Shaham has loved the piece since childhood, when he first discovered a recording by Isaac Stern. "I used to listen to that...over and over," he recalls. Today, he counts the concerto among the defining works of the violin literature:
"I think this piece qualifies as being iconic. I know that's a term that people overuse. But writing for the violin before Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, or after, there's a clear point of demarcation. Here is where things change." - Gil Shaham
When it was premiered in 1878, the concerto faced skepticism. The performance inspired one of the most scathing and infamous reviews in music history. For months after the concert, Tchaikovsky carried a copy of the review with him and could recite Eduard Hanslick's caustic words by heart:
"Friedrich Vischer once observed, speaking of obscene pictures, that they stink to the eye. Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto gives us, for the first time, the hideous notion that there can be music that sinks to the ear." - Eduard Hanslick
Yet within a few years, violinists like Leopold Auer and Mischa Elman championed the work's brilliance, and the concerto soon became a cornerstone of the repertoire.
What makes it so enduring? For Shaham, it's Tchaikovsky's unmatched ability to capture the full range of human emotion. "The expression and the emotion of the music was just on a different level of anything that was written before. He really felt that music can take you to all extremes of emotion. He was out there to push the limits."
What makes it so enduring? For Shaham, it's Tchaikovsky's unmatched ability to capture the full range of human emotion. "The expression and the emotion of the music was just on a different level of anything that was written before. He really felt that music can take you to all extremes of emotion. He was out there to push the limits."
Experience Gil Shaham's dazzling performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Music Director Kwamé Ryan and the Charlotte Symphony in an all-Tchaikovsky program.
This post includes excerpts from "The Concerto That Changed Everything for Violinists," a WRTI Arts Desk feature by Susan Lewis.
Concertmaster Calin Ovidiu Lupanu Talks Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto
January 7, 2025
On January 31 and February 1, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Calin Ovidiu Lupanu will take the stage with frequent collaborator pianist Phillip Bush for an emotional and highly anticipated performance of Mendelssohn's Double Concerto. Calin sat down to share his thoughts on what makes this concerto so special and why this performance holds special meaning for him.
What makes Mendelssohn's Double Concerto so exciting for you to perform?
Pianist Phillip Bush and I have performed together many times, but this will be our first time playing a concerto together with the full orchestra behind us. Mendelssohn's Double Concerto is such a wonderful piece of music -- full of youthful exuberance and energy, with some very delicate and melancholic moments typical of Mendelssohn.This concerto was composed in 1832, right after Mendelssohn wrote his Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, a piece I performed with the CSO during the pandemic. In many ways, these two works are quite similar -- full of beautiful melodic material and intense, fast passage work. What an incredible accomplishment for the 14-year-old Mendelssohn!
What are you most looking forward to about performing with pianist Phillip Bush and conductor Akiko Fujimoto?
I have played with Phillip Bush so many times that I've lost count! Our first collaboration was during my first year in Charlotte when we performed the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio, and from that moment, something just clicked! Phillip is such a wonderful musician and person, and he's very easy to work with. Every time we play together, I learn something new from him. Most of the time, we don't even have to talk; things just fall into place naturally.This will be my first time working with Akiko Fujimoto, and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm sure it will be a fantastic collaboration.
What would you like the audience to know about this performance?
This performance will be especially meaningful for me because it will take place one year to the day since my mother's passing. For me, it will be highly emotional, and I hope that I will make her proud.Join CSO Concertmaster Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, pianist Phillip Bush, and conductor Akiko Fujimoto for a thrilling performance of Mendelssohn's Double Concerto on January 31 and February 1. The program will also include Louise Farrenc's Overture No. 2 and Robert Schumann's "Spring" Symphony.... Read more
5 Fun facts about the Shostakovich & Mendelssohn concert
October 22, 2024Curious about what you'll experience at the Shostakovich & Mendelssohn concert? Keep reading for some surprising and fun facts about the soloist, conductor, and composers featured.
1. Amaryn Olmeda designs her own dresses
Joining us as the soloist for Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, 16-year-old wunderkind Amaryn Olmeda brings both musical and artistic flair to the stage -- she even designs some of her own performance gowns! In a recent interview with The Violin Channel, she shared that if she weren't a musician, she'd find fashion design a fun alternative.
2. Mendelssohn composed 18 symphonies in his life
Between the ages of 12 and 14, Mendelssohn composed 13 string symphonies, intended for performances in the Mendelssohn household. He completed his first full orchestral symphony when he was only 15 years old.
3. Shostakovich's 9th symphony shocked critics around the world
Shostakovich had promised a grandiose, heroic Ninth Symphony, even hinting at a powerful chorale and a triumphant song of praise. But when it finally premiered, it was anything but -- instead, the symphony turned out to be short, lighthearted, and full of wit, defying all expectations! Before the symphony premiered, Shostakovich said, "Musicians will love to play it and critics will delight in bashing it."
4. Anthony Parnther has worked on the music for Oscar winning films
Anthony Parnther is one of the most sought-after conductors in the film industry, having worked on major blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water, Oppenheimer, The Mandalorian, Creed III, and Turning Red. Renowned composer Ludwig Göransson, known for his iconic scores for Black Panther and Oppenheimer, considers Parnther an invaluable collaborator when bringing new film scores to life.
5. Edward Elgar was a fan of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Just one year after leaving school, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor received a prestigious commission from the Three Choirs Festival, thanks to a recommendation from none other than Edward Elgar. Elgar praised the young composer, telling the festival that Coleridge-Taylor was "far and away the cleverest fellow going amongst the young men."Cellist Jeremy Lamb discusses ‘Oumuamua with Harvard Professor
May 14, 2024In the lead-up to the orchestral premiere of his work A Ride on 'Oumuamua, CSO cellist Jeremy Lamb talks to theoretical physicist and Harvard Professor Dr. Avi Loeb about 'Oumuamua, the first interstellar object to enter our solar system, and the inspiration for Jeremy's composition.
Five Must-See Concerts of the 2023-24 Season
September 6, 2023
Anticipation is building as we get closer to the start of our 2023-24 season! With such an incredible lineup of concerts, choosing where to begin might seem overwhelming. But don't worry, we're here to help! Here are five concerts that deserve a special spot on your calendar:
An Evening with Renée Fleming
September 20 | Belk TheaterLovingly referred to as "the people's diva," Renée Fleming is one of the most beloved and celebrated singers of our time -- and she's returning to Charlotte for the first time in nearly 20 years! In this one-night-only event, led by Conductor Laureate Christopher Warren-Green, Ms. Fleming performs favorites from La Bohème and The Sound of Music alongside Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs, which she hails as "the greatest piece written for soprano and orchestra."
Renee Fleming performs "Beim Schlafengehen" from Strauss' Four Last Songs
The Hot Sardines
November 10-11 | Knight TheaterThis group puts the "hot" in hot jazz! Think Harlem Renaissance cabarets and New Orleans speakeasies with a touch of cigar smoke and Parisian "je ne sais quoi." The Hot Sardines offer a mix of standards and modern-day hits, brought to life with brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano, and incredible vocals by Miz Elizabeth.
The Hot Sardines - "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen"
Verdi's Requiem
November 17-18 | Belk TheaterThe raw power of Verdi's Requiem -- with more than 70 musicians and a choir of over 100 -- will blow you right back in your seat when Kwamé Ryan joins the Charlotte Symphony and Charlotte Master Chorale to conduct this musical tour de force. Verdi's Requiem is full of contrasts, from the sublime lyricism of the opening movement to the sheer terror of its infamous "Dies irae."
Verdi Requiem - "Dies irae"
Beauty and the Beast in Concert
January 12-13 | Oven AuditoriumRelive the enchantment of Belle and the Beast's timeless journey and share the magic of this Disney classic with your little ones! Alan Menken's Academy Award-winning score, including "Tale as Old as Time" and "Be Our Guest," will come to life when performed by the Charlotte Symphony in sync with the full-length film. Get there a few minutes early to grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!
Beauty and the Beast - "Be Our Guest"
Jennifer Koh Plays Mazzoli
January 19-20, 2024 | Knight TheaterThis all-American program takes us from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to the open ranges of the Old American West with Jennifer Higdon's Cold Mountain Suite and Aaron Copland's Billy the Kid Suite. Violinist Jennifer Koh, known for her intense and commanding performances, brings her dazzling virtuosity to Missy Mazzoli's Violin Concerto, Procession, which will lead you on a music journey through five healing spells based on the healing rituals of the Middle Ages.
Missy Mazzoli's new Violin Concerto "Procession," written for Jennifer Koh
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