Sounds of California with Simone Porter, Blake Pouliot, and Hsin-I Huang

Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot, violin
Hsin-I Huang, piano

Musical prodigies Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot became friends while training as students at the Colburn School more than 10 years ago. Their musical journey includes extended parallels as they each performed with the Colburn Orchestra, in separate seasons, on The Soraya’s stage. Their professional careers have taken off ever since. All the while, their friendship remains. In this collaboration between the two classical music phenoms, the eclectic Sounds of California program assembles a kaleidoscope of musical scenes inspired by Southern California, ranging from the Eagles to Stravinsky. Friend and musician Hsin-I Huang will accompany the two on piano.

THE EAGLES Hotel Californiaarr. O. Marckx
ERNST BLOCH Nigun
IGOR STRAVINSKY Danse Russe from Petrushkaarr. S. Dushkin
MIKLOS ROZSA Variations on a Hungarian peasant Song for Violin and Piano, Op. 4
ANDREW NORMAN Sabina
ERICH KORNGOLD Much Ado About Nothing Suite, Op. 11
MIKLOS ROZSA Sonata for 2 Violins, Op. 15

All programs subject to change.

“The violinist’s bracing accounts of mostly 21st-century works confirmed the good reasons for her quick rise to fame… Porter continues to earn acclaim for her silver-toned virtuosity and probing interpretations.” — Boston Classical Review

“Porter commands the technical chops, throbbing vibrato but, most importantly, the expressive panache needed to bring the music’s rhapsodic lyricism to life.” — Chicago Classical Review

“Pouliot’s virtuosity went from moments of great power and brawn to stratospheric notes so delicate they sounded like they could fall from the high-wire at any moment.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer

“One of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime.” — Toronto Star