Miranda Liu plays Prokofiev 1: Courage & Vision

Miranda Liu plays Prokofiev 1

Musical Discovery

Sibelius’ most popular work seems to draw its thrilling energy from Finland’s craggy landscape and heroic people.  Prokofiev’s first violin concerto is an amazing, even visionary work by a prodigal, rebellious 26-year-old, and a sobering reminder of the composer’s later “smoothed edges,” under Stalin’s rule.  Schnittke, living in Stalinist and post-Soviet times, inhabits a musical world that is utterly outrageous, ridiculous, yet moving as well.

What makes this concert special?

We are delighted to welcome audience favorite Miranda Liu, back for her sixth appearance with us.  The San Francisco Classical Voice proclaimed her magnificent performance of the Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2 with Redwood Symphony as “one of the most coherent performances of the flinty solo part in this concerto that I’ve been fortunate enough to hear…with strength of line and a clear narrative voice.” 

The San Mateo Daily Journal recently raved, “Benjamin Britten’s early and neglected Violin Concerto was the highlight of the Redwood Symphony concert. It was played so well that it was pretty much the highlight of Redwood Symphony’s entire existence.  Miranda Liu was the soloist…I’ve never heard a better performance of this concerto.”