A favored accomplice of major composers such as John Adams, Oliver Knussen, Thomas Adès, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, the incandescent violinist Leila Josefowicz is a “fiery presence” with a “muscular but poised” style (NY Times). A MacArthur Fellow in 2008 at age 30, Josefowicz has only grown sharper in the five years since receiving the award.

In this uncommon Duke Performances spotlight on solo violin, Josefowicz pairs Brahms’ enduring F-A-E Sonata with Schumann’s psychologically complex Violin Sonata No. 1. Then, Spanish composer Manuel de Falla’s delightful songs and Kurtag’s austerely textured Three Pieces lead into the thrumming conclusion of Josefowicz’s calling card, the John Adams favorite, Road Movies.

BRAHMS: Sonatensatz (Scherzo from the F-A-E-Sonata)
SCHUMANN: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 105
DE FALLA: Suite Populaire Espagnole (arr. Paul Kochanski)
KURTAG: Three Pieces
JOHN ADAMS: Road Movies