Draiblate & Johnson: The Complete Brahms Violin Sonatas

Festival Baltimore‘s sixth concert features the duo Netanel Draiblate and Lura Johnson performing the complete sonatas for violin and piano by Johannes Brahms:

• Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78 (1878–79)
• Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100 (1886)
• Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1886–88)

Hailed as “an extremely gifted violinist with a strong stage personality and charisma,” Netanel Draiblate has concertized across four continents. The versatile artist performs as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist and has been praised in The Washington Post as “a violinist who combines confidence and virtuosity with a playful musical personality.”

Draiblate’s recent and upcoming highlights include appearances with the Brasilia Concert Society Orchestra, the Ashdod, Rishon Le Zion and Mediterranean Symphony Orchestras, the Thelma Yellin Symphony Orchestra, the Tel-Aviv Soloists, and the Lake Forest, Lancaster and Annapolis Symphonies. Solo engagements include his debut with the American Symphony at Carnegie Hall, Israel Chamber Orchestra, and Turkey’s Bursa Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared as soloist with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra on a tour throughout China. Perspectives, Draiblate’s debut solo recording featuring works by Mendelssohn, Prokofiev, Elgar, Grieg and Kreisler, was recognized by American Record Guide as “very exciting and engaging.”

Draiblate is the Director of Chamber Music at Georgetown University and serves on the faculty of the Dali Quartet Summer Festival, Annapolis Young Artists Program, and The Levine School. He is concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and is the newly appointed concertmaster of the Lake Forest Symphony.

Hailed as “brilliant” by The Washington Post, pianist Lura Johnson is celebrated for her passionate and insightful interpretations of the standard repertoire and esteemed by colleagues for her uncommon sensitivity and skill as a collaborative partner. Equally comfortable as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician, she is the Principal Pianist of the Delaware Symphony and has performed extensively as the pianist of choice for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2007. A Steinway artist, she and her colleague, cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn, won second prize in the 2015 International Johannes Brahms Competition Chamber Music Division.

Johnson can also be heard on several recordings released by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, including Naxos’ Grammy-nominated release of the Bernstein Mass, on which she played principal keyboard. Her first solo CD, Turning, was released in summer of 2014, and she has also recorded for the Foxridge, Naxos, Innova, Centaur, Albany, and Azica labels. Ms. Johnson has taught piano at the Peabody Conservatory since 2002 and from 2013–2015 was Director of Chamber Music at Georgetown University in Washington. She has taught on the faculty of the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.

Admission
$30 general, $15 for UMBC faculty and staff, free to UMBC students, free to patrons 18 years of age and younger. Tickets may be purchased online — https://www.festivalbaltimore.com/tickets — and will also be available at the door. Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended, and subscription ticket packages are available.