Brahms' Violin Concerto & Symphony No. 1

Ilya Kaler

Violin, Cleveland Institute of Music

Described by the Gramophone as a “magician, bewitching our ears” for his hauntingly beautiful sound, flawless command of the instrument and mesmerizing phrasing, Ilya Kaler is the only violinist to win the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1986), the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki (1985), and the Paganini Competition in Genoa (1981). Kaler is considered to be one of the most outstanding personalities of the violin today whose career ranges from that of a soloist and recording artist to chamber musician and professor.

Gregory Buchalter

Conductor, The Metropolitan Opera

Gregory Buchalter holds the title of Music Director of Varna International where he has conducted the Bulgarian premieres of Candide and Street Scene. He conducts regularly with Florida Grand Opera and Teatro Lirica d'Europa and the South Florida Symphony. He has been a cover conductor at the Metropolitan Opera (where the position of "Maestro di Banda" was created for him) and has worked extensively with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus. At the Met he prepared several world premieres including John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles, Philip Glass' The Voyage and John Harbison's The Great Gatsby.