By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO–Violinist Asi Matathias and Pianist Victor Stanislavsky have become regular visitors to San Diego. This time, they performed as the second offering in the Salk Science and Music Series. A unique series, inaugurated in 2013, it takes place in the Salk Institute’s excellent concert hall. These evenings are unusual because they pair musicians with intermission lectures by Salk scientists, thus providing, as the Institute’s president, William R. Brody, described, “a stimulating experience for both sides of the brain.”
This evening, the speaker was Assistant Professor, Janelle Ayres, PhD, who described her work in the development of treatments for diseases without the use of antibiotics.
Matathias and Stanislavsky, two accomplished young Israeli artists, opened their program with Brahms’ Scherzo from the F.A.E. Sonata. Matathias attacked the piece with great energy, although, with the lid up on the grand piano, the violinist had to work hard to maintain the aural balance with his collaborator’s multiple notes.
In contrast, Mozart’s Sonata in G major, K.379, was played with fine ensemble and expressive delicacy. The Theme and Variations movement was particularly charming and elegant.
Stravinsky’s Divertimento from “The Fairy’s Kiss,” proved to be an unfamiliar gem, with opening passages paying homage to Tchaikowsky and later movements illustrating Stravinsky’s angular style and sardonic humor.
After the intermission, during which delicious hor d’ourves were served, the audience filed back to hear Dr. Ayres’ fascinating Power Point presentation.
This was followed by two more musical compositions, Tchaikovsky’s three movement Souvenir d’un Lieu Cher and Saint-Saens’ Sonata in D minor. The concluding work was performed with such vitality and excellent ensemble, it is doubtful that one could hear it better played. It is a signature piece of these two highly gifted young men. The audience rose for a well-deserved standing ovation.
The four more evenings on the series include the Victor Goines Jazz Quartet and Sreekanth Chalasani, PhD January 24; Cellist Cicely Parnas and Veverly Emerson, PhD, February 21; Soprano Julia Bulloch and Geoffrey Wahl, PhD, March 20; and Pianists Sean Chen and Karen Joy Davis and Julie Law, PhD, April 24. For information, call: 858-453-4100
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Wingard is a freelance writer and a retired violinist with the San Diego Sympony. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com Any comments in the space below should include the writer’s full name and city and state of residence, or city and country for non-U.S. residents.