Spotlight Series
Ravel - Violin Sonata No. 2
“...essentially incompatible instruments, which not only do not sink their differences, but accentuate incompatibility to an even greater degree."
~Maurice Ravel
Tune in for musical insights, artist interviews, and other intriguing perspectives on great chamber music with PCMF's new Spotlight Series!
Violinist Tai Murray and pianist Bob McDonald had admired each other for decades, yet they had never performed together before their residency with PCMF last season. Ep. 1 of our Spotlight Series casts a spotlight on Ravel's blues-inflected Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major, M. 77 (1923-1927), recorded live at PCMF's 2019 season finale, plus an extensive interview with Bob and Tai.
In the three videos below, Bob and Tai share musicological commentary and reflections on each movement of Ravel's Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major with PCMF Artistic Director Melissa Reardon, followed by a performance of the movement recorded live in Hannaford Hall on August 17th, 2019.
I. Allegretto
II. Blues. Moderato
III. Perpetuum mobile
Full Interview
Complete Work
Meet the Artists
Tai Murray
violin
Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2004, Tai Murray was named a BBC New Generation Artist (2008-2010). She has performed as guest soloist on the stages of such halls as the Barbican, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, and Shanghai’s Concert Hall, performing with such ensembles as the Atlanta Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar. As a recitalist Tai has appeared in Berlin, Chicago, Hamburg, London, New York, and Washington D.C. among many others. As a chamber musician, she toured with Musicians from Marlboro and was a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s prestigious CMS Two program.
Robert McDonald
piano
Pianist Robert McDonald has toured extensively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. He has performed with major orchestras in the U.S. and was a recital partner with violinist Isaac Stern for many years. A member of the piano faculty at Juilliard since 1999, Robert has taught at the Curtis Institute since 2007. During the summer, he is the artistic director of New Mexico’s Taos School of Music and Chamber Music Festival.