Described as “immaculate, at once refined and impassioned,” (ArtsATL) Toronto-born violinist Blake Pouliot is one of the leading violinists of his generation. Praised by The Toronto Star as “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime,” Pouliot pairs commanding technique with an interpretive depth that has made him a sought-after soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician on four continents. The Dallas Morning News writes, “Pouliot surged onstage in rock star pants, presenting Brahms as a composer of great passion…compellingly – indeed, irresistibly done.”
Pouliot’s engagements have taken him around the globe, from the Prague Philharmonia and the Barber Violin Concerto, to an appearance with Spain’s ADDA Simfónica Alicante with Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, to his South African debut with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Across North America, he has performed concertos by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Brahms with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and recently made his his debut with the Kansas City Symphony at Musikfest Berlin and then in Kansas City. He also made his debut with the New Jersey Symphony under the direction of Valentina Peleggi.
In recital, Pouliot tours “Follow the Lieder” with pianist Henry Kramer, featuring the world premiere of Jimmy López’s Memori Mei, a new work for violin and piano co-commissioned by Cal Performances and 92NY. Pouliot also appears as both leader and soloist in two programs: one pairing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and the other featuring Cameron Wilson’s Canadian Seasons alongside the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières. As a chamber musician, he performed with violinist Simone Porter and pianist Hsin-I Huang for “Sounds of California,” presented by Stanford Live and California State University, Northridge, with festival appearances at Toronto Summer Music, ChamberFest West, the Bellingham Festival of Music, La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest, and Bay Chamber Concerts.
Blake Pouliot performed at The Arts Arena’s 15th anniversary celebration with pianist Steven Lin. He will perform this evening with his longtime collaborator, pianist Henry Kramer.
A coupe de champagne will follow the concert.
Reservations are required.