Taiwanese American violinist Richard Lin is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after musicians of the young generation today. In recent years, he has won the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition and the Indianapolis International Violin Competition. During his recital at the NFM, together with pianist Kenneth Broberg, he will interpret works by giants of Romantic violin literature, including Pablo de Sarasate and Henryk Wieniawski.

“In this sonata, you can find everything that tempts a connoisseur: new forms, excellent modulations, unusual timbres and the use of unexpected rhythms,” is what Camille Saint-Saëns said about his colleague Gabriel Fauré’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major op. 13. The work, written at the turn of 1875 and 1876, was premiered by violinist Maria Tayau and the composer, playing the piano part. Since then, it has delighted both critics and audiences. The brilliant sonata, consisting of four movements, made the young Fauré join the pantheon of the greatest French composers. The esteemed piece will begin Richard Lin’s recital, who will next reach for a more contemporary piece by Paul Schoenfield. Schoenfield’s legacy is characterized by a colorful eclecticism that integrates elements from classical and folk traditions. The composition Four Souvenirs consists of four movements: Samba, Tango, Tin Pan Alley and Square Dance, each of which is a modern interpretation of a traditional folk or popular music genre.

In the second part of the concert, we will listen to Karol Szymanowski’s Nocturne and Tarantella op. 28, which belongs to the lighter trend in the Polish composer’s output and is a musical pastiche of popular virtuoso works stylised as Gypsy and Italian music. Another piece in the programme, Romanza andaluza op. 22 no. 1 by Pablo de Sarasate, which is part of the collection of Spanish dances by this legendary violin virtuoso born in Pamplona. In it, he combined traditional Spanish folk songs with his own, extremely expressive musical language. The Romanza was completed in 1878 during the artist’s first concert tour of Scandinavia and remains one of the most eagerly performed compositions to this day. The evening will be crowned by the charming Fantaisie brillante on the Themes from Charles Gounod’s Faust. Henryk Wieniawski’s work was created in the 1860s, when Gounod’s opera enjoyed enormous popularity, and the tropes contained in it quickly became an inspiration for other artists. Including an introduction and four contrasting movements topped with a spectacular finale, the fantasy is filled with Romantic virtuosity that attracts with its lightness and ardour.