Celebrated for his radiant tone and dazzling artistry, violinist Paul Huang joins the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for a captivating evening of musical brilliance, showcasing the remarkable chemistry between one of today’s leading violinists and one of the world’s most innovative ensembles.
Thursday, April 1, 4:00 pm
Orpheus with
Paul Huang, violin
ORPHEUS
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is a radical experiment in musical democracy, proving for over fifty years what happens when exceptional artists gather with total trust in each other and faith in the creative process. Orpheus began in 1972 when cellist Julian Fifer assembled a group of New York freelancers in their early twenties to play orchestral repertoire as if it were chamber music. In that age of co-ops and communes, the idealistic Orpheans snubbed the “corporate” path of symphony orchestras and learned how to play, plan, and promote concerts as a true collective, with leadership roles rotating from the very first performance.
The sound of Orpheus is defined by relationships, and guest artists have always been crucial partners in the process. Orpheus brings out the best in their collaborators, with bonds that deepen over time, as seen with artists and composers alike. Having proven the power of direct communication and open-mindedness within the ensemble, the only relationship Orpheus has never had any use for is one with a conductor.
At home in New York’s Carnegie Hall and in many concert halls around the world, Orpheus commits to enriching and reflecting the surrounding community. Orpheus for All ensures that every New Yorker can experience the thrill of a full-scale orchestral concert for free at Carnegie Hall. Orpheus Reflections™ brings the healing power of music to those living with dementia and their caregivers. Access Orpheus shares the orchestra’s collaborative process with 1,500 New York City Public School students annually. Orpheus Leadership Institute connects musicians with global organizations and businesses to impart positive lessons of leadership and democracy.
Always evolving as artists and leaders, the Orpheus musicians carry their legacy forward, counting on their shared artistry and mutual respect to make music and effect change.
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Paul Huang, violin
Recipient of the 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 2017 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, violinist Paul Huang is recognized as one of the leading artists of his generation. Praised by The Washington Post for his “big, luscious tone” and effortless technique, and by The Strad for his “unfailingly attractive, golden, and resonant tone,” Huang has earned international acclaim for performances marked by virtuosity, elegance, and expressive depth.
Recent orchestral engagements have included appearances with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, NHK Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. He has also appeared at major festivals including Bravo! Vail, Lucerne, Aspen, Music@Menlo, Santa Fe, and Caramoor. An active recitalist and chamber musician, Huang has performed at Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, the Louvre, and Seoul Arts Center, and collaborates regularly with artists such as Gil Shaham, Nobuko Imai, Yefim Bronfman, Kirill Gerstein, and Marc-André Hamelin.
An exclusive recording artist with Naïve Records, Huang’s recent album Mirrors was praised by Gramophone for its “musical storytelling of such virtuosity and conviction.” He is also the founder and artistic director of the annual Paul Huang & Friends International Chamber Music Festival in Taipei.
Winner of the 2011 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and First Prize at the 2009 Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, Huang has received numerous honors throughout his career. Born in Taiwan, he studied at The Juilliard School as an inaugural Kovner Fellow, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees under Hyo Kang and I-Hao Lee. He performs on the legendary 1742 “ex-Wieniawski” Guarneri del Gesù, on extended loan through the Stradivari Society of Chicago, and serves on the faculty of Taipei National University of the Arts.
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