Sean Lee, Violin: Paganini and the Art of Improvisation

ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE

The award-winning virtuoso violinist Sean Lee, an expert on the dazzling music of Niccolò Paganini, will perform and discuss the improvisatory genius of Niccolò Paganini's works for solo violin.

Lee explores the relationship between improvisation and the classical form of Theme and Variations, in the context of solo violin works by Paganini. With insights drawn from two versions of Paganini's presentation of Giovanni Paisello's theme "Nel cor più non mi sento"—as well as two other Theme and Variations works by Paganini—Lee will highlight the techniques that make Paganini's virtuosic style a unique and influential contribution to music.

PROGRAM

Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840)

Variations on "Nel cor più non mi sento"

Capriccio for Solo Violin "In cor più non mi sento"

Variations on "God Save the King" Op. 9

Caprice No. 24 - Theme and Variations, Op. 1

ABOUT THE PERFORMER

A recipient of Lincoln Center’s prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, American violinist Sean Lee has captured the attention of audiences worldwide, with performances described by The New York Times as “breathtakingly beautiful."

In his popular YouTube series, “url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_channel_UCJCW9qVMnLXmR4eyLkrrZQw&d=DwMFaQ&c=009klHSCxuh5AI1vNQzSO0KGjl4nbi2Q0M1QLJX9BeE&r=qbW0YtoVBigm6QYKxHf8amt6uk1xbCIhfoO4GqMmMSA&m=aCI_PQ-TkN9Een3w0LWuk69i230qe31-qk6g8BiNP1E-2mt0qbvvmb0leTsy-hC8&s=1jcyeJWQGH5jJUI1ADWY1HoT5tMR19CtKuLb99GpNc0&e=,”">span>,” Lee uses the latest video technology to share a unique perspective on violin performance, allowing the viewer to look, as it were, over his left shoulder. He was the first violinist to perform all 24 of Paganini's Caprices in the 50-year history of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Lee’s debut album was released by EMI Classics and reached the iTunes top 20 classical bestsellers list. In 2018, Lee collaborated with pianist Peter Dugan to release a second album, SONGBOOK, featuring songs from all over the world from classical to jazz. As a soloist, Lee has appeared with orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony and recital appearances have taken him to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Festival di Carro Paganiniano of Italy, and Vienna’s Konzerthaus.

Lee has collaborated in performances with Itzhak Perlman, Sir James Galway, Deborah Voigt, and members of the Emerson and Guarneri String Quartets. With the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Lee has performed numerous times at Lincoln Center, as well as on tour internationally at venues in Prague, Seoul, Taipei, and St Petersburg. He performed for PBS’s first international production of Live from Lincoln Center, “Odyssey: The Chamber Music Society in Greece.”

Born in Los Angeles, Lee studied with Robert Lipsett and Ruggiero Ricci. Moving to New York City at age 17, Lee studied at the Juilliard School with Itzhak Perlman. At the Juilliard School, Lee earned both Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees and received the school's coveted William Schuman Prize.

TO LEARN MORE
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Video link:
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Photo: Dario Acosta

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