The USC Symphony Orchestra presents an All-Beethoven Concert on Feb. 23

"Violinist Vadim Gluzman plays the violin as if it was the easiest thing on the earth to do. He produces a beautiful cantilena violin tone...delivers strong rhythms and virtuosity as natural component...fully observes the musical score and invests it with nuances which cannot be notated but which reach the spirit of the musical content." – MusicalCriticism.com

Virtuoso violinist Vadim Gluzman’s performances are heard around the world through live broadcasts and award-winning recordings. His exceptional artistry both sustains the great violinistic tradition of the 19th and 20th centuries and enlivens it with the dynamism of today.

He joins the USC Symphony Orchestra on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 61 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23. The all-Beethoven program at the Koger Center for the Arts also includes Overture to Prometheus and Symphony No. 7 in A Major, op. 92.

Gluzman plays the extraordinary 1690 Stradivarius violin, once belonging to Leopold Auer, teacher of the legendary Jascha Heifetz. The instrument is on extended loan to him through the generosity of the Stradivari Society of Chicago.

Early in his career the Ukrainian-Israeli violinist was encouraged and supported by Isaac Stern, and in 1994 he received the prestigious Henryk Szeryng Foundation Career Award. Gluzman appears regularly with major orchestras like Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, among many other great orchestras. His collaborators are among the world's foremost conductors including Itzhak Perlman, Neeme Järvi and Michael Tilson Thomas. He is featured in Jean-Michel Molkhou's book, Great Violinists of the Twentieth Century, Volume 2, which highlights the careers and artistry of the top 30 greatest violinist of today including Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, Hilary Hahn and Anne Sophie Mutter.

Accolades for his extensive discography include the Diapason d’Or of the Year, Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice, Classica Magazine’s esteemed Choc de Classica award, and Disc of the Month by The Strad, BBC Music Magazine, ClassicFM, and others. In 2016, he will give the world premiere performances of a major work by Lera Auerbach for violin, orchestra and chorus with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and culminating with BBC Symphony at the London Proms.

Maestro Donald Portnoy directs the USC Symphony Orchestra and is universally recognized as one of America's dynamic and inspiring conductors. He has earned fame as guest conductor with major orchestras throughout the world. Dr. Portnoy received Columbia University’s 2004 Ditson Conductor’s Award for his commitment to the performance of works by American composers. The SC Arts Commission named him winner of the 2015 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for the Arts in the individual category. He holds the Ira McKissick Koger Endowed Chair for the Fine Arts at the University of South Carolina, where he is director of orchestral studies and conductor of the USC Symphony and Chamber Orchestra.

Barbecue and Brew

No need to catch dinner before the concert. Join us for a delicious barbecue and brew meal before the concert, serving beginning 5:30 p.m. in the large rehearsal room at the Koger (first floor across from elevators). On the menu: Choice of pulled pork sliders or barbecue chicken sliders, potato salad, coleslaw, dessert and beverage (beer, iced tea, lemonade, or water).

Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance by Feb. 17 at the Koger Box Office, by calling 803-251-2222, or online. Limited to 275 guests.

Concert Tickets on Sale Now

General public concert tickets: $30; DISCOUNTS (at the box office): $25 senior citizens, USC faculty and staff; $8 students. Call 803-251-2222 or Koger Box Office, corner of Greene and Park Streets (M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or online.