Violinist Joshua Bell to perform Valentine concert for sold-out audience
The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech presents a musical Valentine’s Day celebration with a recital program of romantic classics by Joshua Bell, one of the world’s most celebrated violinists.
The sold-out concert will be held on Friday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. in the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Moss Arts Center’s Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall.
Accompanied by pianist Sam Haywood, Bell’s performance will include an Igor Stravinsky piece for violin and piano and violin sonatas from Giuseppe Tartini and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and orchestra leader, Bell is a Grammy Award winner and serves as the new music director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the first person to hold this post since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958.
An exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell has recorded more than 40 CDs since his first recording at age 18 on the Decca Label. In October, 2013 Sony released “Musical Gifts from Joshua Bell and Friends,” featuring collaborations with Chris Botti, Kristin Chenoweth, Chick Corea, Gloria Estefan, Renee Fleming, Placido Domingo, Alison Krauss, and others. Recent releases include “The Beethoven 4th and 7th symphonies” with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields under Bell’s leadership as music director; “French Impressions” with pianist Jeremy Denk; “The Essential Joshua Bell;” and “Romance of the Violin,” which Billboard named the 2004 Classical CD of the Year.
In 2001, Bell’s interpretation of Nicholas Maw’s “Violin Concerto,” which the composer wrote for Bell, won the Grammy Award for instrumental soloist accompanied by orchestra. Bell appeared on the Grammy-nominated crossover recording “Short Trip Home” with composer and double bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer. He also collaborated with Wynton Marsalis on the Grammy-winning spoken word children's album “Listen to the Storyteller” and Bela Flecks' Grammy Award-winning recording “Perpetual Motion.” Bell has performed of the Sony Classical film soundtrack “The Red Violin,” which won an Oscar for Best Original Score.
Bell serves on the artist committee of the Kennedy Center Honors and the board of directors of the New York Philharmonic. He has twice performed before President Barack Obama, as well as Vice President Joseph Biden, and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.
Bell performs on the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin and uses a late 18th century French bow by Francois Tourte.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Event parking for visitors is $5. Event passes may be purchased in advance through the Center for the Arts box office or when entering the garage on event evenings. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
