World-famous violinist to perform in Sonoma

Alexander Markov will perform in Sonoma at Burlingame Hall on Friday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Alexander Markov, hailed as one of the most captivating musicians in the world today, will perform in Sonoma at Burlingame Hall, 252 E. Spain St., on Friday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Sonoma Classical Music Society, Markov will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Partita No. 2 for solo violin, BWV 1004” and selected “Caprices, op. 1” by Nicolo Paganini, and will close with “Alexander’s Special Surprise.” There will be one intermission, and refreshments will be served.
Markov has established a reputation second-to-none in the 19th century virtuoso violin repertoire, and he is known for his recordings of Paganini’s 24 Caprices for violin. He received the gold medal from the Paganini International Violin Competition in 1982, won the 1977 Julliard Competition, and has received the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has recorded for Erato/Warner Classics and was featured in the highly acclaimed film, “The Art of the Violin,” and a DVD of his performance of the 24 Paganini Caprices has been released by Warner Vision International.
The pieces that Markov will perform stand at the very top of the solo violin repertoire. The “Chaconne” from the Partita covers practically every aspect of violin playing known during Bach’s time and is among the most difficult pieces for the instrument, while the Paganini “Caprices,” his major contribution to violin technique, are unique in the way they utilize the technical and melodic possibilities of the instrument to its fullest extent. Lord Yehudi Menuhin has written of Markov, “He is without doubt one of the most brilliant and musical of violinists … He will certainly leave his mark on the music lovers of the world and in the annals of the violin virtuosi of our day.”

Tickets for the concert are $25 for adults, $10 for students, and $20 for members of the Sonoma Classical Music Society. They may be purchased from the Society’s website, www.sonomaclassical.com, and will be available from Readers’ Books, The Sonoma Music Store, Pharmaca, and at the door.