From distant shores to dazzling stages, this program tells the story of artists who left their homelands in search of new opportunities, bringing with them rich musical traditions that would flourish in America. Their works—filled with passion, movement, and innovation—embody the spirit of reinvention and triumph. Dai Wei’s Dancing Moonlight shimmers with vibrant energy, blending Eastern and Western influences in a mesmerizing musical dialogue. Acclaimed violinist Vijay Gupta takes center stage for Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, a work of lyrical beauty and virtuosic brilliance that stands as a testament to Neo-Romanticism. Finally, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances bursts with rhythmic fire and nostalgia, a dazzling reflection on past and future. This season finale is one of wonder, resilience, and breathtaking music.
The Louis K. Thaler Concert Violinist Series: “When the Violin” by Vijay Gupta, violin, and Yamini Kalluri, dancer Free, open to the public
Violinist and social justice advocate Vijay Gupta gives his Iris debut with a personal and collaborative program that connects masterworks of the past with the music of our time. A 2018 recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Grant, Vijay Gupta is the founding artistic director of Street Symphony, a community of Los Angeles-based musicians creating performances, workshops, and new songs with neighbors recovering from addiction, homelessness and incarceration. The evening features Bach’s E Major Partita interwoven with Kurtág’s Signs, Games and Messages, a movement from Darshan by Reena Esmail, and Beethoven’s vibrant Septet in E-flat Major, performed with members of the Iris Collective.
Darshan Trio brings a visionary, boundary-expanding approach to classical music, creating immersive multimedia experiences that connect music across centuries and cultures. Formed by pianist Dominic Cheli, violinist Vijay Gupta, and cellist Yoshika Masuda, the trio’s programs blend storytelling, visual design, and world-class artistry that challenge tradition and spark curiosity. Meaning "vision" in Sanskrit, Darshan Trio embraces the power of music to create new ways of seeing, and being seen. As the ensemble in residence for Street Symphony, they perform in shelters, clinics, county jails and prisons throughout Southern California, as well as on concert stages across the nation.
From distant shores to dazzling stages, this program tells the story of artists who left their homelands in search of new opportunities, bringing with them rich musical traditions that would flourish in America. Their works—filled with passion, movement, and innovation—embody the spirit of reinvention and triumph. Dai Wei’s Dancing Moonlight shimmers with vibrant energy, blending Eastern and Western influences in a mesmerizing musical dialogue. Acclaimed violinist Vijay Gupta takes center stage for Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, a work of lyrical beauty and virtuosic brilliance that stands as a testament to Neo-Romanticism. Finally, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances bursts with rhythmic fire and nostalgia, a dazzling reflection on past and future. This season finale is one of wonder, resilience, and breathtaking music.
The Louis K. Thaler Concert Violinist Series: “When the Violin” by Vijay Gupta, violin, and Yamini Kalluri, dancer Free, open to the public
Violinist and social justice advocate Vijay Gupta gives his Iris debut with a personal and collaborative program that connects masterworks of the past with the music of our time. A 2018 recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Grant, Vijay Gupta is the founding artistic director of Street Symphony, a community of Los Angeles-based musicians creating performances, workshops, and new songs with neighbors recovering from addiction, homelessness and incarceration. The evening features Bach’s E Major Partita interwoven with Kurtág’s Signs, Games and Messages, a movement from Darshan by Reena Esmail, and Beethoven’s vibrant Septet in E-flat Major, performed with members of the Iris Collective.
Darshan Trio brings a visionary, boundary-expanding approach to classical music, creating immersive multimedia experiences that connect music across centuries and cultures. Formed by pianist Dominic Cheli, violinist Vijay Gupta, and cellist Yoshika Masuda, the trio’s programs blend storytelling, visual design, and world-class artistry that challenge tradition and spark curiosity. Meaning "vision" in Sanskrit, Darshan Trio embraces the power of music to create new ways of seeing, and being seen. As the ensemble in residence for Street Symphony, they perform in shelters, clinics, county jails and prisons throughout Southern California, as well as on concert stages across the nation.
