Olga Kern and The Sphinx Virtuosi

Two recent performances presented by the venerable Charlotte Concerts are paired on this edition of the program. From October, 2011, a sensational program from Cliburn Competition-winning pianist Olga Kern, featuring Schumann’s Carnaval and variations on Schumann by his wife, Clara, plus Rachmaninoff’s Sonata No. 2 and Balakirev’s spellbinding Islamey. The second half of the show has selections from a November, 2011, program by The Sphinx Virtuosi - an ensemble comprised of musicians from the Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players. The ensemble plays music from Venezuelan composer Juan Bautista Plaza along with selections from Bach, Mozart, and Schubert.