International violin virtuoso Iskandar Widjaja returns to the historic ballroom of Bohemian National Hall with a concert full of classical and contemporary musical inspiration. From Dvořák and Gershwin to a selection of Asian, American, and European works – as well as Iskandar's own compositions – themed around romance. Accompanied by pianist Miki Aoki. Join us for a special Valentine’s Day musical evening!
Program
Kreisler: Präludium & Allegro
Grieg: Sonata No.3 in c minor
F. Chopin: Nocturne c sharp minor (arr. Milstein)
Dvořák: Romantic Pieces
P. Tchaikovsky: Valse- scherzo op.34
intermission
E. John: Can you feel the love tonight
J. Kuhn: Colors of the wind
E. Sheeran: Perfect
I. Widjaja: Spirited away
I. Widjaja: Lacrimae
Yiruma: Kiss the rain
Yiruma: River flows in you
Hisaishi: Princess Mononoke – Legend of Ashitaka
Hisaishi: Howls moving castle – Merry go round of life
Gershwin: Concert Fantasy on Porgy and Bess
General admission: $30; seniors, students: $20. Tickets may be purchased online through Eventbrite, or at the door at the time of the event (cash only).
ABOUT
ISKANDAR WIDJAJA Labeled both as “Worldclass-Violinist” (Stuttgarter Zeitung) and “Rockstar” (The Jakarta Post), Iskandar Widjaja connects worlds. The son of Arabic-Dutch and Chinese-Indonesian parents grew up with classical music and has performed as a soloist with internationally renowned ensembles such as the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester and Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin; the Munich, Warsaw and Shanghai Philharmonics; Sydney Symphony; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Simultaneously, he has developed a parallel showbiz career in East Asia, with regular TV appearances and many related activities.
He entered the Berlin “Hanns Eisler” conservatoire as an extraordinary student at the age of eleven. Awarded many international prizes even as a teenager and while studying, he has worked with the great names of classical music such as Zubin Mehta, Christoph Eschenbach, Rolando Villazón, Cameron Carpenter, David Foster, Anggun, Itamar Golan and Fazil Say in halls such as the Elbphilharmonie; Philharmonie and Konzerthaus Berlin; Tonhalle Zurich; Shanghai Cultural Arts Center; Hong Kong City Hall; or the Tel Aviv Opera House. He is also often to be seen at mass-media events ranging from the Davis Cup, EXPO Milan, and Fashion Week in Paris to the world premiere in Vienna’s Konzerthaus of the suite for violin and orchestra “Across the Stars” from Star Wars.
In addition to the traditional repertoire, he created the concept-concert “Bach&ZEN” in collaboration with a ZEN-Master and also works as a composer and songwriter. His compositions cannot be narrowed down to one genre, but combine influences of film music, baroque, pop and hiphop.
Iskandar is strongly committed to educational projects for children in the Asian Pacific region, typically in collaboration with UNICEF or the WWF. Supported by KOMPAS Gramedia, Indonesia’s biggest media group, and the “besharp foundation” he organizes charity events to finance musical instruments and instruction for orphans, street-, and schoolchildren. His personality and energy are aptly summed up by the string players’ house magazine The Strad, in the following words: “Iskandar Widjaja, a true force of nature.” He plays the “Stephens” 1690 Stradivari and an 1875 JB Vuillaume.
MIKI AOKI is widely recognized for her diverse abilities as a pianist and collaborative artist. A frequent guest artist in prestigious concert series and festivals around the world, Ms. Aoki made her debut at age of 12 at the Royal Festival Hall in London's South Bank Centre as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Aoki has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall in New York City, St. Martin-in-the Fields, St. John’s Smith Square, the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room at South Bank Centre, the Barbican centre, Blackheath Halls (UK), Laeizhalle Hamburg, Gasteig München, Philharmonie Essen, Beethovenssal Hannover (Germany), Philia Hall, Munetsugu Hall (Japan), Wiener-Saal (Austria), St-Petersburg Philharmonic Hall (Russia) as well as in festivals such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommen, Salzburger Festspiele, Rheingau Festival (Germany), Menuhin Festival Gstaad (Switzerland), International Chamber Music Festival Silver Lyre (Russia), Beaulieu-sur-la Mer (France), Valdres Festival (Norway), Copenhagen Summer Music Festival (Denmark), Steirisches Kammermusik Festival (Austria), Tertis International Viola Competition and Festival (Isle of Man), Tembi Festival (Indonesia), Phnom Penh International Music festival (Cambodia) and the International Classical Music Festival (Myanmar).
Ms. Aoki has performed as soloist with the National Symphony, London Soloist Chamber Orchestra, Hamburg Camerata, Korean Chamber Orchestra, Washington Sinfonietta and Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México. Her performances have been broadcasted on NDR-North German Radio, RBB- Radio Berlin, Brandenburg, BR Classics, WDR, Hessischer Rundfunk, Radio Suisse Romande, ORF Austria, Radio France, 98.7 WFMT Chicago, MPR Classic and ABC Classic FM Australia and BBC Radio 3.
Ms. Aoki started playing the piano at age 4 and moved to London at age 9 where she joined the Purcell School of Music. She holds degrees from SUNY Stony Brook University (DMA), Yale University (MM) and Indiana University (BM). She graduated with a distinction in the Konzertexamen degree at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. (Mit Auszeichnung). Ms. Aoki was a full-time senior lecturer at Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz between 2012-2016. In fall 2022 Ms. Aoki started her new role as Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano at Arizona State University.
This event is organized by the Dvořák American Heritage Association with support of the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association.