#kavakos

[thescientificviolist]

kavakos: plays Paganini's fifth caprice inhumanly fast

me playing the video at 2x speed:

[elladastinkardiamou]

Picture series by Derek Gatopoulos & Petros Giannikouris/AP

The ancient theater of Epidaurus, renowned for its acoustics, has reopened for a limited number of open-air performances, with organizers planning a live-streamed event Saturday for the first time in the Greek monument's 2,300-year history.

Live concerts and events have been mostly canceled in Greece this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the Culture Ministry allowed the Epidaurus Theater in southern Greece and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens to host performances under strict safety guidelines.

“Only 45% of the seats are occupied, the refreshments areas are closed, there is no intermission, and tickets are only issued electronically,” said Maria Panagiotopoulou, spokeswoman for the cultural organization which organized the events.

“We normally have 80 performances in the summer. This year, it’s just 17. … We kept changing the plans. We planned for a September start, and then we were concerned that all events might be canceled. We ended up with something in the middle. It would have been the first summer without a performance in 65 years.”

[elladastinkardiamou]

Kavakos Plays Bach

Renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos opens the Epidaurus Festival with a program dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach in a concert that is hailed as a milestone in the festival’s history. Standing alone at the center of the ancient theater, which is celebrated for its acoustics, Kavakos will perform Bach’s Partita No 3 in E Major, Sonata No 1 in G Minor and Partita No 2 in D Minor. Ticket prices range from 10 to 120 euros and can be booked on the Greek Festival’s website, where you can also find detailed information about how to get to and from the venue, which is located in the northeastern Peloponnese.

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Leonidas Kavakos playing one of my favourite Violin Concertos from Johann Sebastian Bach, BWV 1042 in E Major. There is a wonderful array of feeling here, from the lively opening movement to the weeping second movement, to yet another dance. Standard concerto form, but elevated through Bach’s finely-developed love for interesting thematic material. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Leonidas Kavakos plays Ysaye’s Allemande from Sonata No. 4, Opus 27. This work shows the indelible influence of Johann Sebastian Bach’s own musical thought on the French composer. Indeed, Ysaye composed 6 violin sonatas in the same vein as Bach, which are among some of the hardest works for violin ever written. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Leonidas Kavakos playing Johannes Brahms’ outstanding violin concerto. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Another insightful interview with Leonidas Kavakos, particularly concerning the future of the music industry. Using music to do good is a more important ambition than merely collecting accolades. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

An illustrative interview with Leonidas Kavakos!