"Winds of Time Press Release" - February 28, 2010 Premier
April 4, 2010
​
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Violinist Dmitri Berlinsky and the International Chamber Soloists will present a new work that blends jazz with salsa on Feb. 28. The recital, which will take place at the Music Building Auditorium at 7 p.m., will feature a world premiere of a concerto for soloist and ensemble by David Winkler titled, "Winds of Time."
The first half of the recital will offer a joining of two more famous works with two distinctive styles — Antonio Vivaldi's old-world, well-loved classic, "Four Seasons," with Astor Piazzolla's new-world tango "Quatro Seasone at Buenos Aires."
 
"It will be a very interesting program, one that I think people will enjoy," said Berlinsky, artist teacher and associate professor of violin. "I wanted to include something exciting from the 21st century, so I asked composer David Winkler to write a piece for me and the International Chamber Soloists that would blend jazz and other elements together while including the dynamic rhythm and energy of percussion in the work."
 
Berlinsky formed the International Chamber Soloists soon after he moved to the U.S. from Russia and began teaching at Michigan State University. ICS is a unique group of extraordinary young string players from all over the world, he said.
 
It's been Berlinsky's dream to establish a chamber group where his colleagues and friends could find the joy of playing together. The ensemble has performed in San Jose, San Francisco, Campeche, Mexico and New York City, with regular performances at MSU and other venues in Michigan.
 
Since there are a limited number of contemporary works for violin and string orchestra, Berlinsky commissioned Winkler to write the new concerto specifically for him and ICS.
 
"‘Winds of Time' is a new violin concerto, and it draws on a variety of world rhythmic textures and atmospheres," Winkler said. "With each movement, the work drives forward toward a passionate and heroic conclusion." 
 
The concerto requires that the soloist and ensemble "cross-over" into popular styles such as jazz and salsa - all within a classical framework, Winkler said.
 
"And it will be exciting to pair the ‘Seasons' works by Piazzolla and Vivaldi together, going back and forth between the two styles and two different times," Berlinsky said. 
 
Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer was the first, together with arranger Leonid Desyatnikov, to juxtapose the two works about the seasons.
Tickets can be purchased at the door 30 minutes before the event or at 102 Music Building during business hours. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. Admission is free for students with ID and anyone under 18 years of age.
For more information visit http://music.msu.edu
​