Highlights from the Summer 2023 Aspen Music Festival Encores (United Latest News)

2023 Aspen Music Festival

(United Latest News)- Encores at classical music performances offer soloists, ensembles, and even entire orchestras a chance to provide an extra touch of delight for the audience, often showcasing their skills. The Aspen Music Festival in 2023 featured several memorable encores that stood out. Here’s a compilation of the top ten, presented in the order they occurred:

1. July 2 – Daniel Trifonov (piano): Following his captivating rendition of George Gershwin’s lively “Concerto in F,” Trifonov’s encore was a delightful surprise. He seamlessly transitioned into Debussy’s “Reflets dans l’eau,” creating a five-minute enchanting extension of Gershwin’s style that left the audience in a state of bliss.
2. July 18 – Augustin Hadelich (violin): Hadelich’s solo performance was a marvel in itself. His encore featured the Andante from Bach’s Sonata No. 2 in A minor, accentuating the intricacies of his playing. The dignified pace and pulsating eighth notes allowed Bach’s intricate melodic variations and multi-voice counterpoint to shine with boundless creativity.
3. July 22 – Edgar Meyer and Christian McBride (double basses): This exceptional duet brought together Meyer’s classical expertise and McBride’s jazz sensibilities. Their encore was a captivating rendition of Miles Davis’ “All Blues,” infusing a cool and sultry vibe that perfectly concluded their innovative recital.
4. August 2 – Kelley O’Connor (mezzo-soprano) and Robert Spano (piano): Elevating an already impressive recital, O’Connor and Spano presented “Ich bin der welt abhanden gekommen” from Mahler’s Rückert Lieder with serene elegance, adding an extra layer of depth to their performance.
5. August 4 – Steven Banks (saxophone): Banks, a standout of the season, masterfully performed Billy Childs’ concerto. For his encore, he played The Lord’s Prayer on the soprano sax, achieving a soulful and memorable rendition that showcased his extraordinary command over the instrument.
6. August 7 – Michelle Cann (piano): Focusing on music by women from the Chicago Black Renaissance, Cann’s recital took an exciting turn with her juicy transcription of Hazel Scott’s boogie-woogie adaptation of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp minor.
7. August 9 – Gil Shaham (violin) and Robert Spano (piano): Following a recital featuring a lush world premiere by Jonathon Leshnoff, Shaham and Spano provided a touching interpretation of “Meditation” from Massenet’s opera “Thaïs,” offering a tranquil and unhurried musical conclusion.
8. August 18 – Yefim Bronfman (piano): To contrast his splendid performance of Schumann’s piano concerto, Bronfman showcased his virtuosity with a powerful rendition of Rachmaninoff’s explosive Prelude No. 5 in G minor. His dynamic performance demonstrated his remarkable skill and left the audience in awe.

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And perhaps the pinnacle of encores for the year was the special treat at the conclusion of the highly popular concert featuring John Williams’ film music on July 25. Under the baton of conductor Maurice Cohn, the entire orchestra treated the audience to a thrilling encore – the Imperial March (Darth Vader’s theme) from “Star Wars.” This unforgettable performance truly brought the festival to an epic close.