Kamuela Philharmonic plans ‘Brilliant’ finish to 2022-23 MasterWorks season

The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra ends its 2022-23 MasterWorks Season on March 26 with its concert “Brilliant.”

Under the direction of artistic director and conductor Brian Dollinger, the Philharmonic will perform Johannes Brahms’s majestic and sweeping Symphony No. 1 and Antonín Dvorák’s stunning and deeply moving Violin Concerto.

“Brilliant” promises to be a musical feast for all classical music lovers and more. The concert is at 2 p.m. at the Kahuli Theatre in Waimea on the Big Island.

The Kamuela Philharmonic will feature the highly celebrated violinist Sirena Huang for her first performance in Hawai‘i, playing Dvorák’s Violin Concerto. With her virtuosic playing, Huang has captivated audiences worldwide and has become a sought-after performer in major concert halls.

She is considered by many to be one of her generation’s most celebrated violinists. Her soulful interpretation of Dvorák’s Concerto, which contains one of the most beautiful and expressive violin melodies in the classical repertoire, is a rare treat for audiences on Hawai‘i Island.

“When I started learning the violin, Dvorák quickly became one of the first composers I fell in love with, Huang said in a press release. “His music is always packed with so much emotion and has a unique sense of simplicity which I find very beautiful and moving. Playing his works allows me to wear my heart on my sleeve, and that’s always very exciting for me.”

For the first time in more than a decade, the Kamuela Philharmonic will perform Brahms’s Symphony No. 1. The breadth and scope of Brahms’s symphonies are awe-inspiring, and his First Symphony is a grand masterpiece.

From the opening notes of the magnificent first movement to the rousing finale, it is a symphonic journey through a range of deep emotions and feelings. The finale’s unforgettable horn solo and the soaring melody of this symphony have captivated audiences for more than 150 years. Brahms’s First Symphony is a must-hear masterpiece showcasing the best of the Romantic era.

“Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 is one of my all-time favorite pieces by Brahms, as a conductor and a double bassist,” Dollinger said. “The many colors, rich textures and harmonies, and use of pitch center/keys create an incredible experience. Grand themes, melodic tension and release, and thunderous triumph culminate as the listener is taken on this exquisite musical journey.

“In many ways, Brahms has been compared to the great Ludwig van Beethoven, and this piece was foremost in this comparison as far back as its creation.”

Dollinger said each time he prepares this work, he finds new nuances and new textures to explore that make this work fresh.
Tickets for “Brilliant” are $35 and $65. They may be purchased online at kamuelaphil.org or by calling the Kahilu Theatre Box Office at 808-885-6868 or visiting the Box Office in person at 67-1186 Lindsey Road in Waimea, Tuesday through Friday, from noon to 5 p.m.

The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra’s presentation of “Brilliant” is made possible with support from Jim Monk and Betty Eaves, Carol and Clive Davies, Joanne and David Turner, and other Friends of the Kamuela Philharmonic.