Golka and Zorman Soar! 88th Bach Festival

Back by popular demand, on Sunday, February 19, the 88th Annual Bach Festival presented the violin and piano recital collaboration that brought the audience to their feet in a standing ovation.

The extraordinary recital and superb acoustics resonated through the Tiedkte Concert Hall at Rollins College.

Itamar Zorman, an Israeli Violinist, awarded the top prize at the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition, the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award for 2014, winner of the 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant, is a rising international star to watch. Known for his emotional playing, he commands the violin with superb mastery. Along with Adam Golka, a Polish-American pianist who won the first prize at the 2nd China Shanghai International Piano Competition, this duo is a match made in musical heaven.

Almost magical how this virtuosic duo’s musical souls blend into one seamlessly, producing the most emotional and delightful ear candy.

The program opened with Franz Schubert’s Violin Sonata in G minor, D.408 which has remnants of Schubert’s musical heroes Beethoven and Mozart.

All four movements were played beautifully with technical perfection, a soulful magnitude was exuded by the duo.

Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano is Bela Bartok’s 1920s modern piece, which was ahead of its time. Zorman and Golka mastered this piece with energy and agility. The magic of our duo exhibits the intricacies of the piece. Playing separate materials then coming together at crucial moments.

After the Intermission, in the most charming manner that only artists could carry off, both musicians entered and told the audience that in a dream Brahms came to Zorman and told him to play Hungarian Dances #17 and #5. This was not part of the program, but a joyful treat for the audience.

Ending the concert with Johannes Brahms Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Opus 1, premiered in Budapest in 1888. Brahm dedicated the sonata to his friend and colleague Hans von Bulow. All four movements flourished and delighted all senses magnificently.

Itamar Zorman’s website provides concert schedules as well as a video on his amazing collaboration with the US Space & Rocket Center. The violin Odyssey, Music of the Spheres with Visuals by the Intuitive Planetarium, is a remarkable spiritual exhibit and concert.

A visit to Adam Golka’s website is comprised of his bio and concert schedule. Do not miss the interesting series of videos in cooperation with filmmaker Zac Nicholson. Golka dives into 32 conversations (videos) with each conversation corresponding to Ludwig van Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas, with a dazzling array of special guests.

John V. Sinclair, Artistic Director, and Conductor of the Bach Festival did it again in 2023 with the 88th Annual Bach Festival – this afternoon was a day to remember.

Bach Festival Website