Community Arts Music Association (CAMA) of Santa Barbara will conclude its 2022 season with an appearance by acclaimed Canadian violinist James Ehnes at the Lobero Theatre, accompanied by pianist Orion Weiss, (a local favorite) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24.
Ehnes will perform Mozart’s “Violin Sonata No.17 in C Major,” “Schubert’s Fantasy in C Major,” Korngold’s “Much Ado About Nothing, Suite Op.11,” and Saint-Saëns’ “Violin Sonata No.1 in D Minor.”
“The community is in for a rare treat, thanks to an anonymous donor who has generously underwritten this performance,” said CAMA president Mark Trueblood. “James Ehnes is an exceptional talent, and excitement is rapidly building. I encourage the community to experience this great artist’s electrifying virtuosity in the intimate confines of the Lobero Theatre.
“I promise you it will be an exhilarating and unforgettable experience.”
Hailed by the Daily Telegraph as “a supreme virtuoso and artist of the first rank,” Ehnes is a sought-after violinist on the international stage. Recent orchestral highlights include appearances with the San Francisco Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Ehnes has collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Antoine Tamestit, Jan Vogler, and Yuja Wang. He has performed across Europe with his Ehnes Quartet, and serves as artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society.
Ehnes has won numerous awards for his recordings, including a Grammy (2019) for his live recording of Aaron Jay Kernis’ Violin Concerto with the Seattle Symphony and Ludovic Morlot,” and a Gramophone Award for his live recording of the Elgar Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis.
His recording of the Korngold, Barber, and Walton violin concertos won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance and a JUNO for Best Classical Album of the Year.
Weiss’ deeply felt performances extend beyond his technical mastery and have won him worldwide acclaim. Recent performance highlights include his third appearance with the Chicago Symphony; a performance of Beethoven’s “Triple Concerto” with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; the release of his recording of Christopher Rouse’s “Seeing;” and recordings of the complete Gershwin works for piano and orchestra with longtime collaborators the Buffalo Philharmonic and JoAnn Falletta.
An alumnus of Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West, Weiss made his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood as a last-minute replacement for Leon Fleisher. In recent seasons, he has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Also known for his affinity for chamber music, Weiss performs regularly with the violinists Augustin Hadelich, William Hagen, Benjamin Beilman, James Ehnes, and Arnaud Sussman; the pianist Shai Wosner; the cellist Julie Albers; and the Ariel, Parker, and Pacifica quartets. CAMA presented Weiss and Hadelich in concert at the Lobero Theatre in April 2019.
Tickets to the May 24 performance cost $38 and $48, and can be purchased at the Lobero Theatre Box Office, 805-963‑0761 or https://checkout.lobero.com/15823.
CAMA’s 2022 Masterseries concerts are sponsored by Esperia Foundation. For more information, call 805-966-4324 or email info@camasb.org.