Antonín Dvořák’s 175th Anniversary festivities continue with an all-Czech lecture-performance of works by Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, and Suk featuring the violin-piano ensemble G-Sharp Duo, with Emilie-Anne Gendron on violin and Yelena Grinberg on piano.  Dr. Grinberg will discuss the relationships and influences among the composers, providing an overview of Czech music at the turn of the 20th century. The program includes Smetana’s “From the Homeland,” Two Duets for Violin and Piano (1880); Dvořák’s Sonata in F Major, Opus 57 (1880); Suk’s Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Opus 17 (1900); and Janáček’s Sonata for Violin and Piano (1914-15, rev. 1916-22).

The G-Sharp Duo - Yelena Grinberg, piano and Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin .  

Founded in 2003, the G-Sharp Duo is a dynamic ensemble established by violinist Emilie-Anne Gendron and pianist Yelena Grinberg when both were students in the Barnard-Columbia-Juilliard (BCJ) dual degree program. Over the past thirteen years of close collaboration, they have garnered enthusiastic praise from New York’s classical music scene for their highly expressive and insightful performances.

Infusing their interpretations with a keen musical intellect and poetic imagination, Ms. Gendron and Ms. Grinberg are committed to showcasing not only the hallmarks of the violin-piano literature, but also some lesser known compositions as well as important contemporary works. Notably, they gave the world premiere of Hiroya Miura's "Moon Petals" (2005), a composition dedicated to the G-Sharp Duo, which was first performed at Miller Theatre and broadcast over New York Public Radio's arts program Ear to Ear, hosted by David Garland. In Spring 2009, the Duo presented the US premiere of Philip Lasser’s “Chaconne Variations” (2007), and in Fall 2010, they gave an unofficial premiere of Michael Harrison’s “Raga Prelude” at Faust Harrison Pianos.

Prizing dual commitment to intellectual and musical exchange, Ms. Gendron and Ms. Grinberg give frequent lecture-recitals, exploring in depth various musical and aesthetic aspects of the sonata-duo repertoire at venues, such as The Juilliard School, Columbia University, and New York University. The G-Sharp Duo won First Prize in the duo category of the 2006 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, sponsored by the Chamber Music Foundation of New England. In Summer 2008, they were awarded residency at the renowned Banff Centre in Canada, where they worked closely with such artists as Philip Setzer, Mark Steinberg, Barry Shiffman, and Denis Brott.

Since their New York debut recital at Merkin Hall in Spring 2008, the G-Sharp Duo has given numerous performances at venues such as Miller Theatre, Bargemusic, Steinway Hall, Weill Recital Hall, the Bates College Concert Series, the Harvard Club of New York, the chamber music series at St. Paul Church in Brookline, Massachusetts, Tenri Cultural Institute of New York, Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York, and the Grinberg Classical Salon Series.

Pay at door $20; Seniors, Students, Czech Center Club Members $10. 

Supported by Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association. 

Photo Credits: Yelena Grinberg by Arthur Moeller, Emilie-Anne Gendron by Steve Riskind.   T. F. Simon, Silhouette of the Hradcan in the Evening, color soft-ground etching and aquatint, 1924. Image courtesy of Frederick Baker, Inc.