Ilana Zaks returns to the Art Center! Saturday, July 5 at 4pm on our back porch (weather permitting) or in our gallery.

Pay what you will – Treat your house guests to this wonderful concert!

Spend the afternoon enjoying this live performance.

Repertoire:

• J.S. Bach: Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
  Adagio/Fuga/Siciliano/Presto

• Wieniawski: Caprices Nos. 3, 4, and 5

• Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata No. 4 in E minor (dedicated to Kreisler)
  Allemande/Sarabande/Allegro non troppo

• Fritz Kreisler: Recitativo and Scherzo

This concert features a blend of works that explore both the virtuosic and expressive qualities of the violin. From the deep spirituality of Lera Auerbach’s T'filah to the baroque elegance of Bach’s Sonata, the program spans diverse styles and centuries. Including pieces by Bloch, Kreisler, and Paganini, this concert highlights both the power and beauty of the violin in solo performance.

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001

  • Adagio

  • Fuga

  • Siciliano

  • Presto

• Lera Auerbach: T'filah

• Niccolò Paganini: Caprice No. 24 in A minor, Op. 1

• Ernest Bloch: Suite for Solo Violin No. 2

  • I. Energico, deciso - attacca

  • II. Moderato - attacca

  • III. Andante - attacca

  • IV. Allegro molto

• Fritz Kreisler: Recitative and Scherzo

This program is in partnership with the City of Newton's Older Adult Services Department. This program is generously sponsored by the Jayne Colino Fund at the Senior Citizens Fund of Newton.

Join internationally renowned violinist Ilana Zaks for an inspiring musical lunch + learn, delving into how classical composers have drawn from Jewish heritage to create music of profound emotion, innovation, and cultural resonance.

The program opens with Lera Auerbach’s T’filah (Prayer)—a deeply introspective work that captures the essence of spiritual longing through minimalist textures and expressive depth. Auerbach, a Russian-Jewish composer and poet, weaves together modern compositional language with timeless themes of faith, memory, and identity.

The following is Ernest Bloch’s Sonata No. 1, a powerful and emotionally charged piece that blends dramatic intensity with rich harmonic writing. Bloch often infused his music with Jewish liturgical and folk motifs, creating a uniquely expressive voice within the Western classical tradition.

Fritz Kreisler’s Recitative and Scherzo offers a shift in tone, showcasing Kreisler’s signature warmth and virtuosity. While not overtly centered on Jewish themes, his lyrical phrasing and folk-inspired language reflect a deeply personal artistic sensibility.

Next is Gabriela Lena Frank’s Elu D’vorim, a dynamic work that draws from Latin American folk traditions and Jewish texts. Frank’s multicultural background informs her vibrant compositional style, merging rhythmic vitality with spiritual reflection.

The program concludes with Erwin Schulhoff’s Sonata, a bold and compelling piece marked by sharp contrasts, jazz influences, and modernist experimentation. Schulhoff, a Jewish composer silenced by the Holocaust, left behind a body of work that speaks to resilience, playfulness, and radical creativity.

Together, these works illuminate the many ways Jewish identity, heritage, and history have inspired some of the most heartfelt and innovative music written for the violin.