The spectacular success of violinist Heorhii Sokolov and the Casanova Orchestra, conducted by José Francisco Sánchez

The days when chamber music concerts attracted only the most ardent music lovers are a thing of the past. Attendance is now ensured by season ticket holders, widespread promotion, and, as a result, a growing interest in chamber music. No wonder, then, that the audience turned out in force last Saturday, filling the hall to capacity and reacting with great enthusiasm to the exceptionally interesting program and its superb performance. And there was certainly plenty to listen to....

The stars of the evening at the Teatro Municipal were the Casanova Orchestra, which has been heavily promoted in recent months and is led by its founder, Maestro José Francisco Sánchez. The exceptionally talented violin soloist and concertmaster of the orchestra—a true discovery by Maestro Sánchez—Heorhii Sokolov, performed as a soloist and was undoubtedly the star of the concert. The program itself was also a highlight, featuring two works representing two different worlds, distant in time and character—Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” versus Astor Piazzolla’s “Estaciones Porteñas,” by Astor Piazzolla, where Vivaldi is a masterful painter of nature, while Piazzolla captures the melancholy and rhythm of the Argentine metropolis. The performance concept proved intriguing, creating a mosaic of shifting moods and styles through its interpretation alternating between works by Vivaldi and Piazzolla.

As I mentioned, the soloist for The Eight Seasons was the extraordinarily talented Ukrainian violinist Heorhii Sokolov —an artist capable of navigating a diverse repertoire, usually showcasing his most significant strength: an extremely advanced and dazzling technique. In the four concertos by A. Vivaldi, the soloist delivered a lively, dynamic, joyful, and technically flawless performance. Although Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons offers ample scope for interpretive freedom, Sokolov presented a typically classical version, in which he musically conveys the precise reality composed by Vivaldi. The soloist’s interpretation delighted the audience with its freshness, precision, and lightness. The artist plays as if playing the violin were the simplest thing in the world. The following also deserved applause: the principal cellist for her beautiful solos.

The performance of A. Piazzolla’s work was, of course, different; here, the soloist demonstrated spontaneity, boldness, and passion, drawing a full range of effects from his instrument, including percussive ones. It sounded fiery, organic, and beautiful, and Piazzolla’s energetic tangos came across as truly Argentine. Sokolow and the Casanova Orchestra, conducted by Maestro J.F. Sanchez, demonstrated the many ways in which the cyclical nature of the world and emotions can be expressed. It was also evident that the performance combined the spontaneity of the rhythms with that energy and precision. The soloist’s virtuosity and charisma captivated the audience, sweeping them away with music that stirs the heart and the imagination. The enthusiastic reception meant that encores were inevitable, serving as the perfect the grand finale of this outstanding musical evening. The pieces were: “Oblivion” by Piazzolla and “Por una Cabeza” by C. Gardel. The audience gave the artists a standing ovation to thank them and bid them farewell.

Special recognition is due to Maestro J.F. Sánchez and the musicians of the Casanovas Orchestra, who brilliantly executed all the provocative and rhythmically impulsive surprises, full of various effects and dynamic contrasts. The program was thus grand in scale and exceptionally colorful. The orchestra’s string section consists of top-class musicians, so we look forward to future concerts featuring a repertoire just as ambitious as the one presented here.