Leonidas Kavakos plays Bach

St. Paul, Minn. — Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos has made Minnesota almost a second home - performing with the Minnesota Orchestra last spring here and at Carnegie Hall - and performing a solo recital tonight at the Ordway as part of the Schubert Club International Artist Series.

The program boasts two colorful and romantic works: Robert Schumann's second violin sonata in D minor written in between massive choral and orchestral projects as a bit of chamber-music respite to be played at home.

Also on the program is the third sonata by Georges Enesco - "In the Romanian popular character" - not based on any original folk themes, but on an entire new language created by the composer more in the spirit of the folk-style of his native country.

Kavakos begins tonight's recital with the chaconne from a solo violin partita by Bach. This is an astonishingly intimate way to begin his rapport with the audience. While many instrumentalists like to grab the listener with technique, flair and big sound, Kavakos chooses an entry that casts a spell, almost hypnotizing the listener by its simplicity and grace.

It's reminiscent of the encore Kavakos chose after a scintillating Sibelius concerto he played last May at Orchestra Hall. This Bach Andante was so delicate and tender the usual coughing and shuffling audience was completely silenced. You can hear this marvelous encore by clicking to the right.

Guests

• Leonidas Kavakos: Leonidas Kavakos won the Sibelius competition in 1985 and the Paganini competition in 1988. He now appears in concert throughout the world with the great orchestras and conductors and regularly visits the major international festivals with visiting orchestras, in chamber music and in recital. In 2007, Kavakos took up the position of Artistic Director of the Camerata Salzburg, succeeding Sir Roger Norrington. As a chamber musician, Kavakos collaborates with many distinguished partners including Heinrich Schiff, Natalia Gutman, Emanuel Ax, Lars Vogt, and Elisabeth Leonskaya. In 1991, Kavakos won the Gramophone Award for the first recording ever of the original version of Sibelius' violin concerto. He plays the "Falmouth" Stradivarius of 1692.