Violinist Kristin Lee & Pianist-Composer Michael Stephen Brown: A New Double Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Orchestra
Photo of Kristin Lee by Lauren Desberg, Photo of Michael Stephen Brown by Anela Bence Selkowitz
LINKS & ASSETS
Kristin Lee & Michael Stephen Brown: Double Concert Brochure
BOOKING INQUIRIES
Christina Jensen, christina@jensenartists.com
Gina Meola, gina@jensenartists.com
646.536.7864
“This is a violinist who has everything: superlative technique to burn, interpretative mastery and incredible sensitivity to the various styles of music...”
“one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers”
In Dialogue Concerto, the violin and piano transcend their traditional roles as mere instruments to become two individuals with distinct personalities, engaging in a continuous dialogue with themselves and with each other. The interplay between the violin and piano is elevated to a new level as they engage in a dialogue not just with each other, but with their surroundings - represented by a string ensemble. This creates a musical microcosm of human relationships, where the two instruments constantly affirm or contrast each other's voices. What makes this piece truly unique is the way it seamlessly integrates intimate chamber music into a larger orchestral world, opening up new relational dynamics, sonic possibilities, and complex questions. It's a powerful exploration of the interplay between tradition and innovation, classical and contemporary, and the personal and the universal.
“My new work brings us back to the famous Mendelssohn salons in the 1820s. Music was then created and heard as a living and breathing organism— flourishing in real time, evolving in sync with the atmosphere and creative surroundings. Felix and his sister Fanny showed off their musical poetry and technical brilliance in an intimate setting, composing music for themselves and for public display. My new work reflects this spirit of an older time in conversation with our present one, exploring human emotions from the most personal to an openly boisterous, united celebration for all.
Dialogue Concerto can act as a companion piece to Felix Mendelssohn’s brilliant Double Concerto for the same instrumentation, and both works can be presented with either a string quintet or string orchestra. The violin/piano collaboration is one of the most beloved forms of chamber music, and as a pianist I have been fortunate to explore a longtime musical collaboration with the extraordinary violinist, Kristin Lee. She is a groundbreaking artist whose musical sense is ideally suited to the fusion of tradition interacting with the contemporary.
-Michael Stephen Brown
“I am honored to have one of my favorite pianists and composers, Michael Stephen Brown, writing this double concerto for us. Michael is one of the most profound and unique musical voices of today. As a pianist, his phrasing always tells a story, and his vulnerable expressions allow communication with the listeners. As a composer, Michael’s music communicates directly and honestly. His colorful expression combined with a sense of drama and humor creates a personal narrative, drawing listeners into his world.
Michael and I have many years of experience as musical partners, and I cannot be more excited to launch this opportunity to deepen our artistic collaboration. When Michael composes, the process is a collaborative one. He respectfully desires my creative input while drawing on our musical chemistry and strengths as a unit. Therefore, the idea that this work will be tailored to us will be the greatest form of celebration for our friendship.”
-Kristin Lee
Duration: 15-20 minutes
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Violinist Kristin Lee
Kristin Lee is a violinist of remarkable versatility and impeccable technique who enjoys a vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and artistic director. “Her technique is flawless, and she has a sense of melodic shaping that reflects an artistic maturity,” writes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and The Strad reports, “She seems entirely comfortable with stylistic diversity, which is one criterion that separates the run-of-the- mill instrumentalists from true artists.”
As a soloist, Lee has appeared with leading orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, Hawai’i Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sweden, Ural Philharmonic of Russia, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra of China, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Dominican Republic, Singapore National Youth Orchestra, and many others.
Pianist-Composer Michael Stephen Brown
Michael Stephen Brown has been hailed by The New York Times as “one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers.” His artistry is shaped by his creative voice as a pianist and composer, praised for his “fearless performances” (The New York Times) and “exceptionally beautiful” compositions (The Washington Post). Brown is the recipient of the 2018 Emerging Artist Award from Lincoln Center and a 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant.
As a composer, he recently toured his own Concerto for Piano and Strings (2020) around the US and Poland with several orchestras, including the Seattle Symphony, the National Philharmonic, and the Grand Rapids, North Carolina, Wichita, New Haven, and Albany Symphonies. He was the Composer and Artist-in-Residence at the New Haven Symphony for the 2017-19 seasons and a 2018 Copland House Residency Award recipient. He has received commissions from the Gilmore Piano Festival, the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra; the New Haven and Maryland Symphony Orchestras.