Kerson Leong plays Tárrega, Bach, Barrios, Schubert, and Ysaÿe

Rare are the violinists who are up for the challenge of a completely solo recital—particularly when the program is as challenging as the one Canadian violinist Kerson Leong takes on here! Dubbed "a true revelation" by Classica magazine, the young virtuoso shines in this impressive concert, performing with flair and gusto on a coveted Guarneri del Gesù instrument. 

The imaginative program features a pair of works originally written for the guitar by Francisco Tárrega and Agustín Barrios, the second of which has been transcribed for solo violin by the performer himself. Rounding out the program are a trio of more traditional selections that are by no means less challenging for the performer. Bach's second Sonata for Solo Violin, with its monumental fugue, requires immense musical maturity, while Ernst's Grand Caprice on Schubert’s Der Erlkönig is known to be among the most technically-challenging pieces in the solo repertoire. The program culminates in Ysaÿe's Violin Sonata no. 5, a work full of both poetry and formidable technical challenges—both of which Leong navigates with striking ease. 

Kerson Leong © Bruno Schlumberger