Festival Mozaic is excited to announce a new partnership with Steinway & Sons, which results in the loan of a concert grand piano for Pianist Anna Polonsky to use for the Festival’s upcoming WinterMezzo weekend. For decades, Steinway & Sons has cultivated special relationships with pianists from every genre, including historic local celebrity Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Polonsky, one of the more than 1,600 Steinway artists, will be playing in San Luis Obispo at Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo weekend, February 21-24.
About being a Steinway artist, Polonsky states, “In my performing experience, no piano but Steinway has been better at answering my musical and technical needs.”
Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo Series runs February 21-24, 2018 with four days of music, food, wine and education. Well-known for its popular summer music festival, Festival Mozaic brings world-class chamber music performances to scenic San Luis Obispo County, California, through the rest of the year with its WinterMezzo series.
Scott Yoo, the Festival’s Music Director, curates the WinterMezzo series, which showcases exceptional artists performing in intimate venues. Yoo will perform as violinist in these programs, along with featured artists Anna Polonsky and Bion Tsang. Yoo is in residence in San Luis Obispo six weeks each year; he also serves as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic and conducts all over the world. Additionally, Yoo is the host and executive producer of Now Hear This, a music and travel television program slated to air as part of Great Performances on PBS in Fall 2019.
As part of the WinterMezzo series, Yoo will be giving an encore performance of Bach’s Partita No. 2 for solo violin, which includes the massive Chaconne. This movement, often labeled the “Everest” of the solo violin repertoire, consists of thirty variations on a single theme, and exceeds the other four movements combined in length. Yoo will also be leading a free master class for local violinists and a school matinee Notable Encounter for K-6 grade classes about the violin, cello, and piano. Both free events take place at the Performing Arts Center and are presented in partnership with the PACSLO outreach department.
Joining Yoo will be cellist Bion Tsang, who is recognized internationally as one of the outstanding instrumentalists of his generation. Tsang has appeared as soloist with major orchestras around the globe. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with such luminaries as Anne Akiko Meyers and Yo-Yo Ma, among others. He made his professional debut at age 11 with the New York Philharmonic, after entering The Juilliard School at the age of 8, and later continued his education at Harvard and Yale Universities. Tsang is Division Head of Strings for the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin.
Appearing with Yoo and Tsang is pianist Anna Polonsky, called “a chamber musician of exceptional refinement” by the New York Times. In addition to being a Steinway Artist, Polonsky is in demand the world over, as both a soloist and chamber musician. Polonsky has recently appeared in China with Yo-Yo Ma, and at Carnegie Hall with renowned pianist Peter Serkin. She made her solo debut in Russia at age 7, and later emigrated to the United States to continue her studies at Interlochen Arts Academy, The Curtis Institute of Music, and The Julliard School. In addition to performing, she serves on the piano faculty of Vassar College.
“The format of Wintermezzo allows us to explore great works of chamber music in depth,” says Yoo. “These weekends are the perfect opportunity for all kinds of listeners to deepen their appreciation of classical music.”
Patrons may attend one or two events or choose to take in all of the events for a truly immersive experience. Over the course of the weekend, the performers will explore four works:
Bach – Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Mozart – Piano Trio (Divertimento) in B-flat major, K. 254 Britten – Cello Sonata, Op. 65
Mendelsohn – Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49
The WinterMezzo weekend consists of sequential events: beginning with Notable Encounters, in which the musicians talk about the pieces and perform selections, and concluding with a traditional concert. The Notable Encounter event that is paired with a special dinner is already sold out. These programs are designed so patrons who attend all events can develop a richer understanding of the works to be heard at the final concert.
Tickets for the WinterMezzo weekend are available at FestivalMozaic.com.