In Tuesday’s (2/22) New York Times, Vivien Schweitzer writes, “Success in any artistic field depends largely on talent and hard work, but also on the luck of recognition. Since 1961, Young Concert Artists has been an enthusiastic and savvy promoter of promising musicians, offering mentorship, management and, most important, performance opportunities. Susan Wadsworth, its tireless founder, still directs the organization, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a well-attended 12-hour marathon at Symphony Space on Saturday, featuring solo and chamber performances by early and recent protégés. … The flutist Eugenia Zukerman, who referred to herself and other veteran performers as ‘antique Y.C.A. artists,’ hosted the opening segment of the marathon, devoted to Bach. She joined alumni including the violinist Eugene Drucker and the harpsichordist Anthony Newman for a spirited rendition of Bach’s ‘Brandenburg’ Concerto No. 4 in G. The German violinist Christiane Edinger, a 1966 alumna, offered a passionate interpretation of the Chaconne from the Partita in D minor. … Pius Cheung, a Chinese-Canadian performer on the organization’s roster since 2008, recently recorded Bach’s ‘Goldberg’ Variations on marimba. Here he offered a dexterous, expressively colored performance of the Allegro from Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, in a version for string quartet, double bass and marimba.” Other performers included pianist Jeremy Denk, violinist Juliette Kang, cellist Efe Baltacigil, clarinetist Daniel McKelway, and pianists Gleb Ivanov and Emanuel Ax.
Posted February 23, 2011
