An Appalachian Summer brings world-class
violinist to Boone
By Jeff Eason
One could easily say violinist Midori Goto is a citizen
of the world.
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World renowned violinist Midori
will play Sunday at ASU’s Farthing Auditorium. Photo
submitted
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She was born in Osaka, Japan, studied under the late Dorothy Delay
in New York City in her teens, and has performed all over Europe,
Asia and North America. She now lives in Los Angeles but continues
to call several places home. She credits her time in New York,
however, with enabling her to become a well-rounded artist and
person.
“New York is a city that has so many opportunities to experience
diverse arts and music,” Midori said. “It allowed me
to develop a very eclectic interest in the arts.”
Midori will visit Boone this week for a performance with the Eastern
Festival Orchestra. The concert, part of An Appalachian Summer
Festival, is scheduled for Sunday, July 6 at 8 p.m.
Conductor David Lockington will direct Midori and the Eastern
Festival Orchestra through a program featuring Brahm’s “Violin
Concerto in D Major” and Philip Sawyer’s “The Gale
of Life and Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major.”
The concert coincides with the Sony Classics release of the two-disc
anthology “The Essential Midori” later this month. The
album will feature classical music tracks from her 20-plus year
recording career, beginning with her critically acclaimed performance
of Paganini’s “24 Caprices for Solo Violin,” recorded
when she was only 17 years old.
“The selections were made by the label,” Midori said.
“I do think the repertoire covers a spectrum of the recordings;
from the most recent release all the way back to the Paganini
‘Caprices.’”
Although Midori is best known for her albums and concerts of established
classical composers, she enjoys the challenge of taking on modern
compositions as well.
“I admire so many of today’s composers and appreciate
the diverse techniques and styles of modern music,” she said.
“It gives us a chance to see the world through the unique
prism of each composer’s perspective. In recent years I have
started to commission new music, the process of which is a wonderful
experience.”
Although Midori admitted that the demands of her career keep her
from experimenting with other styles of music, she still has time
to sample a musical variety.
“I am listening to different genres all the time: classical,
certainly, but also jazz, world music, show tunes, pop and rock,”
she said.
“Of course, I have many favorites in each category.”
Midori & Friends
In 1992, Midori founded an organization dedicated to introducing
underprivileged kids in New York to the joys of music. Today,
Midori & Friends has inspired more than 130,000 New York
City children and their families through quality music education
activities.
“Midori and Friends, which celebrated its 15th anniversary
this season, was my first serious foray into community engagement
work,” Midori added.
“I continue to be amazed by children’s capacity to
love music and to embrace it. Especially now that I live in
Los Angeles, Midori and Friends keeps me actively connected
to New York.”
Tickets
Tickets to An Appalachian Summer Festival’s Eastern Festival
Orchestra featuring Midori range are available at the Farthing
Auditorium box office at (828) 262-4046 or online at www.appsummer.org.
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