Louisa Chua-Rubenfeld '14 Plays Alongside Norwalk Symphony Orchestra

On Saturday, January 24, 2008 our very own Louisa (Lulu) Chua-Rubenfeld played violin with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra as part of their Prodigy Program that helps mentor the area's most talented musicians.

The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra sent the following press release:

NEW HAVEN VIOLINIST LOUISA CHUA-RUBENFELD SELECTED TO PLAY ALONGSIDE NORWALK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN JANUARY 24 CONCERT

New Haven Violinist Louisa (Lulu) Chua-Rubenfeld has been selected to play with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, January 24 in NSO’s annual Prodigy Concert in Norwalk City Hall Concert Hall. This year’s Prodigy Concert is entitled “Fiesta” and will feature music with a Latin/Spanish flair.

According to Music Director and Conductor Diane Wittry, “Latin music is characterized by rhythm and heavily influenced by dance. The exciting concert will showcase the most extraordinary young musical talent in the area, allowing them to play alongside the professional musicians of the NSO.”

Those selected include Violinists Lindsay Thompson of Cheshire and Luisa Chura-Rubenfeld of New Haven, and Cellists Daniel Giebisch of Woodbridge and Robin Bonacci of Fairfield.

Maestro Wittry said, “Each year I am astounded at the quality of the young people and their incredible proficiency at their instruments. I know that this comes from thousands of hours of hard work and disciplined practice. With this as their foundation, I am sure these young students will be successful in anything they set their heart on later in life. The Norwalk Symphony is proud to provide an opportunity for these talented prodigies to grow musically and to experience the concert performance on a professional level. It can be a life changing experience for them."

Louisa (Lulu) Chua-Rubenfeld, 12, a seventh grader at Hopkins School, is the Concertmaster for the Norwalk Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra. Last June, she played with the Norwalk Youth Symphony in Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest, and Prague. This summer, she will play with the Youth Symphony in Tanglewood. Lulu performed as a soloist before a gathering of international Supreme Court Justices last fall. In 2007, she was a soloist at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. When she was 10, she performed with her sister, Sophia, as a violin-piano duo for soprano Jessye Norman. From age six to nine, Lulu studied piano and violin at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven. Lulu has also participated in several summer music festivals, including Chamber Music Central and Elm City Chamberfest. She studies with Naoko Tanaka of the Juilliard School of Music. Lulu has also been invited to work with several renowned violin instructors, including Almita Vamos, Syoko Erle, and Eszter Perenyi. In her spare time, Lulu is an avid tennis player, loves Latin and Chinese. She lives in New Haven with her parents, her sister, and two Samoyed dogs, Coco and Pushkin.

About the “Fiesta” concert
Violinist Lindsay Deutsch, a 23-year-old American virtuoso who has been performing professionally since she was 11, and 24-year-old Jeanette Vecchione, who began singing opera only five months before auditioning for The Julliard School, will join the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra for its “Fiesta” concert.

The concert begins with Spaniard Manuel de Falla’s “Spanish Dance” from his opera La Vida Breve (1905). This selection will set the mood for the evening with the traditional flamenco sound of old Spain.

Next is The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (1953) by Astor Piazzolla. Born in Argentina in 1921, Piazzolla has been called the most important figure in the history of tango. Violinist Duetsch is an exciting choice to play his music which combines tango rhythms with jazz and classical harmonies to create a distinctive musical sound.

The concert moves to Mexico for Danzon No. 2 (1994) by Arturo Marquez. The son of a mariachi, Marquez is known for weaving traditional Mexican dance themes into his compositions. “This produces tunes audiences love,” Wittry says. So popular is Danzon No. 2, that it is said to be considered a second national anthem by the people of Mexico.
Next, it’s off to Brazil for Bachiana Brasilerias No. 5 by Heitor Villa Lobos. The orchestra will be joined by a soprano as they perform what Wittry calls “a beautiful piece, very much a song.”

The final selection, Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, is Spanish in spirit, though composed by Russian Rimsky-Korsakov. An older piece (1887) it rounds out a concert that mixes classical Latin rhythms with edgier new sounds from this vibrant tradition.

Three upcoming concerts
The theme for the 08-09 season is “Hear the World, One Country at a Time,” with each concert focusing on the music of a different nation. As it has in the past, the Symphony will supplement its own superb playing with soloists drawn from among the best young talent in the world.

Other concerts this season include:
? “Vive La France!" featuring music by Debussy (Petite Suite), Ravel (Concerto in D Major for Left Hand) and Cesar Franck (Symphony in D minor) at 8:00 PM on Saturday March 28. Guest artist for the evening will be celebrated pianist Gary Graffman.
? “The Three Broadway Divas: An American Tribute” at 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 18 offering a spectacular blend of Broadway favorites including music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Lerner & Loewe, Leonard Bernstein, Jerry Herman, and Rodgers and Hart. The Divas, accompanied by their own combo, include Jan Horvath, Christiane Noll, and Debbie Gravitte.
? “La Dolce Vita: A Night at the Opera” at 8:00 PM on Saturday, May 16 featuring arias and solos from some of the best loved Italian operas including The Barber of Seville (Rossini), Turandot and La Boheme (Puccini) Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni), La Traviata and Aida (Verdi) and many others.
? “Opera for All” a family concert at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 17 which is geared for families with young members.
Sesason sponsors include Poko, Inc., The Hilton Garden Inn, and the Connecticut Commission for Arts and Tourism. For more information on tickets, subscriptions or sponsorships, call 203-847-8844 or visit www.norwalksymphony.org.  

About The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra
The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional orchestra under the leadership of the acclaimed Conductor, Diane Wittry. Approximately 70% of our musicians live and work in Fairfield County. Some of the world's greatest emerging musicians have performed with the Orchestra and its mission of hosting talented young musicians continues today. The NSO performs in the acoustically renowned Norwalk Concert Hall. For information: 203-847-8844 or www.norwalksymphony.org.
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