Meet Them Through the Music: PNB Concertmaster and Solo Violinist Michael Jinsoo Lim’s Playlist
PNB is the home of so many artists: dancers, costumers, musicians, and more. In this series, we highlight PNB Orchestra members through their musical taste. Today, meet PNB Concertmaster and Solo Violinist Michael Jinsoo Lim, who will be featured in Stravinsky Violin Concerto, part of PNB’s upcoming ALL BALANCHINE program! Keep scrolling to read more about Michael and the music (and musicians) who influence him.
I’m Michael Jinsoo Lim, concertmaster and solo violinist for Pacific Northwest Ballet. I’ve been part of the PNB family since 2009. This playlist is music that I have a special connection to, with composers and artists who have shaped my life
John Corigliano: String Quartet
Before I became concertmaster of the PNBO, I was co-founder of the Corigliano Quartet, with whom I toured and recorded. We named ourselves after John Corigliano: friend, composer and Pulitzer Prize winner. This is the 2nd movement of John Corigliano’s String Quartet, which we recorded for Naxos. Our album was named to The New Yorker’s Top Ten Best Classical Albums of the Year.
Melia Watras: Berceuse
My wife Melia and I both played in the Corigliano Quartet and have been performing together since we met as freshmen at the Indiana University School of Music. She’s a renowned violist, professor at UW, and a fantastic and accomplished composer. I wanted to share with you Berceuse, a composition of hers. The video is us playing it live at KingFM in Seattle. The Spotify track is a recording of us, from her album Firefly Songs.
Fritz Kreisler: Liebeslied
At Indiana University, I had the honor of studying with one of the world’s greatest violin teachers, the amazing Josef Gingold. Mr. Gingold was concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra before becoming a professor. He had the most beautiful, elegant way of playing, with a sweet sound and style that you don’t hear a lot of anymore. He influenced my playing tremendously, and I still think about him whenever I play the violin. This is him playing a short piece composed by the legendary violinist Fritz Kreisler.
Igor Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
For our ALL BALANCHINE program, I’m excited for the opportunity to revisit the Stravinsky Violin Concerto, one of my absolute favorite pieces. I love the connection that Balanchine and Stravinsky had, each able to augment the other’s art and create something completely new and fascinating. This is a recording of the final movement the concerto, by one of my favorite violinists, Isaac Stern, with whom I studied chamber music at his Carnegie Hall workshop.
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