The Traverse Symphony Orchestra is kicking off its Maestro Series this weekend at the Cathedral Barn at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City.
The guest artist is violinist Will Hagen, and he'll be joined at the piano by the TSO's Principal Conductor and Artistic Director Kevin Rhodes.
The two stopped by IPR to talk about this weekend's recital, how their collaboration began and the Stradivarius that Hagen plays.
Hagen and Rhodes first worked together almost by accident. Hagen was brought on as a last-minute substitute for a performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto that Rhodes was conducting.
"I maybe listened to thirty seconds of him playing and said, 'Get him on the plane,'" Rhodes said. "I couldn't wait to work with him."
Hagen performs on the Arkwright Lady Rebecca Sylvan Stradivarius of 1732, currently on loan to him from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation.
He says that although he's played a few Strads in his day, this one is his favorite. "I could not be more thrilled," Hagen said. "I love it."
Hagen and Rhodes will perform a recital of music by Bach, Bartok, Beethoven and Walton this weekend.
Tickets for Sunday's 3 p.m. performance are sold out, but a few tickets remain for Saturday's 7:30 p.m. performance. Click here for more info and to purchase.
The music heard in this feature is from Hagen's 2020 album "Danse Russe," recorded with pianist Albert Cano Smit.
