Vadim Gluzman and ProMusica Rock the Southern Theatre

World-renowned violinist Vadim Gluzman was in Columbus last weekend to perform in "Mostly Mendelssohn" with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. The program included: Alfred Schnittke's Suite in the Old Style, for violin & strings and Fugue, for violin solo and Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in D Minor and String Octet. Alfred Schnittke is near and dear to Gluzman's heart. It's a name you may not recognize, but Schnittke composed some beautiful music, which we've played on WOSU radio. Throughout the evening, Gluzman spoke to the audience about the music and composers, sharing his own passion for what he does and giving each piece an added dimension. This is the first time in my many years in this business that I witnessed a performance receive a standing ovation at the end of the first half.  The opening Schnittke Suite set the tone, but it was the Mendelssohn Octet, a piece which cannot fully be appreciated until you see it performed live, that caused the audience to leap to it's feet. Another standing ovation followed the second half, then a third came after a rousing, and quite humorous, encore. Following each ProMusica concert, Gluzman and I invited the audience to join us for a conversation down by the Southern Theatre stage, a tradition started a few years ago by ProMusica. Violin soloist Vadim Gluzman and I discuss the performance on air.