PULASKI – Pulaski’s LaVeck Concert Series will present a performance by violinist Nicolas Orbovich, founder of the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival, on June 6.
The concert represents Orbovich’s return to a local concert series he helped popularize with an appearance in its early days 10 years ago.
Orbovich will be accompanied by pianist Rob Auler, founding artistic director of LaVeck, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pulaski Congregational Church, 27 Lake St., Pulaski.
Auler described Orbovich, a longtime friend and collaborator, as “kind of like an old-school Romantic violinist who may have lived a century ago.”
He is considered a masterful and adventurous performer who has appeared with many top symphony orchestras as well as pop artists including Rod Stewart, Roger Daltry and the Moody Blues.
In 1987, Orbovich was awarded the Bronze Medal at Her Royal Majesty’s International Festival Competition in Aberdeen, Scotland (UK).
Auler said he met Orbovich while a doctoral student at the Cincinnati Conservancy of Music invited to perform at the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival that Orbovich co-founded in Northern Indiana in 2002.
“Over that time, I’ve returned to Michigan City every August to perform at what has become a truly incredible festival under Nic’s direction,” Auler said. “He has always treated the musicians so wonderfully that we have made a point of leaving the first week in August open on our calendars to perform at this festival.”
Auler and Orbovich have since teamed up many times, most often on violin sonatas – which Auler said really means a sonata written for both violin and piano.
Orbovich was among the first performers to appear under the LaVeck Concerts banner after Auler founded the series in 2008.
For the June 6 LaVeck concert, the duo will perform two landmark sonatas – the beloved Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano by Johannes Brahms and the revered Violin Sonata by Claude Debussy.
“Audiences absolutely love the Brahms sonata for its high degree of romanticism, lyrical melodies and poignant moments. Many Classical music lovers feel that Brahms is their very favorite composer,” Auler said. “The other big work on the program, the Debussy sonata, also is a masterpiece. Debussy was an Impressionist composer, meaning he dealt with sound color and effects in many ways more than traditional forms and expectations.”
Orbovich also will offer some 19th century show pieces by a French composer named Henri Vieuxtemps that showcase his high level of musicianship, Auler said.
“Hearing Nic perform these works will be a real treat,” Auler added. “Besides being a masterful musician performing incredible selections, he’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever known. I think the audience will really enjoy his stage presence and mingling with him at the post-concert reception.”
All LaVeck concerts are followed by a free meet-and-greet reception with the artists.
A donation of $10 is requested to attend the concert, but no donation is required and students are encouraged to attend for free.
To learn more, please visit www.laveckconcerts.org or follow LaVeck Concerts on Facebook.
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