Spring Break
Arm & Friends Perform At von der Mehden
Daniel Gross
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Focus
Famed violinist and UConn violin professor Theodore Arm wowed audiences at von der Mehden Recital Hall Friday, with an impressive array of adagios, allegros and various other pieces. He performed pieces with pianist Minyoung Lee and cellist Kangho Lee (also UConn music professors), and provided musical accompaniment for a storytelling by accomplished entertainer Robert Cucuzza. Sonatas by J.S. Bach and Edward Elgar were performed, as well as a duo piece by Zoltan Kodaly.
The night began as Arm humbly introduced Minyoung Lee on piano, referring to her as "one of the most wonderful artists to come along at Storrs." He also explained why he chose Bach's "Sonata in E major" to begin the evening, stating his admiration of Bach's "brilliant technical skills." Without further ado, the performance began with the adagio section. It was a slow, heavy, meditative composition, which Arm referred to as a "real miracle of peace."
After that, the allegro section began, obviously in a notably different fashion than the previous section. It possessed a light, dancelike rhythm and the piano and violin harmonically responded.
Following that, the "adagio ma non troppo" began with another, slow, meditative composition. One last allegro completed Bach's "Sonata" on a wonderfully smooth note. This was not the only sonata of the night; another sonata, "Sonata in E minor," by Edward Elgar, was performed after intermission.
After Bach's piece, Kangho Lee came to the stage to provide cello accompaniment to "Duo Op. 7" by Zoltan Kodaly.
Arm once again glowed with praise for his colleague, saying, "We are so lucky to have him."
Arm was quickly proven correct, as Lee provided a masterful cello rendition of a very difficult piece; so difficult, in fact, that he broke more than a few bowstrings doing it.
First up was the "allegro serioso" section, a dramatic, yet resonant composition loaded with repeated phrases, discordant, staccato bursts and a dramatic finish at the end. Next was the adagio section, which was generally a somber, gently textured piece with progressive rhythm, but also accentuated with climaxes and aggressive codas to keep the listener's rapt attention.
The night began as Arm humbly introduced Minyoung Lee on piano, referring to her as "one of the most wonderful artists to come along at Storrs." He also explained why he chose Bach's "Sonata in E major" to begin the evening, stating his admiration of Bach's "brilliant technical skills." Without further ado, the performance began with the adagio section. It was a slow, heavy, meditative composition, which Arm referred to as a "real miracle of peace."
After that, the allegro section began, obviously in a notably different fashion than the previous section. It possessed a light, dancelike rhythm and the piano and violin harmonically responded.
Following that, the "adagio ma non troppo" began with another, slow, meditative composition. One last allegro completed Bach's "Sonata" on a wonderfully smooth note. This was not the only sonata of the night; another sonata, "Sonata in E minor," by Edward Elgar, was performed after intermission.
After Bach's piece, Kangho Lee came to the stage to provide cello accompaniment to "Duo Op. 7" by Zoltan Kodaly.
Arm once again glowed with praise for his colleague, saying, "We are so lucky to have him."
Arm was quickly proven correct, as Lee provided a masterful cello rendition of a very difficult piece; so difficult, in fact, that he broke more than a few bowstrings doing it.
First up was the "allegro serioso" section, a dramatic, yet resonant composition loaded with repeated phrases, discordant, staccato bursts and a dramatic finish at the end. Next was the adagio section, which was generally a somber, gently textured piece with progressive rhythm, but also accentuated with climaxes and aggressive codas to keep the listener's rapt attention.
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