Take Off with the CSO
Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji made a star-bright impression in March, 2008 when she debuted with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto.
She returns to the CSO with the Sibelius Concerto at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 15), 11 a.m. Friday (Oct. 16) and 8 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 17) at Music Hall.
The concert, to be conducted by CSO music director Paavo Järvi, is a preview of the CSO's upcoming tour of Japan (Oct. 22-Nov. 4) and also includes Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2.
Shoji will reprise the Sibelius Concerto on the tour Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 in Nagoya and Tokyo, respectively.
Tokyo born, but raised in Italy, Shoji lit a fire when she won the International Paganini Competition in Genoa in 1999. She was the first Japanese and, at age 16, the youngest violinist to do.
Tickets are $10-$95 and for the Thursday concert only (Oct. 15 ), include complimentary pre-concert buffet in the Music Hall ballroom.
CSO staff and crew members will tell their favorite "tour" stories at a pre-concert "Classical Conversation" with CSO assistant conductor Vincent Lee one hour before the Friday and Saturday concerts (Oct. 16 and 17).
Those who attend Saturday (Oct. 17) are invited to a post-concert "soukoukai" ("farewell party") in the Music Hall lobby.
Järvi will sign copies of his latest CSO CD, Holst's "The Planets" at all three concerts.
Call (513) 381-3300, or order online at www.cincinnatisymphony.org.