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Having lived in London for over 13 years, I often forget what kind of cultural life is happening around me at any given moment. Between deadlines, commuting, and my own performing gigs, I rarely get a chance to enjoy the city’s constant stream of concerts and events. Friends who live elsewhere often say, “Living in London is great – there’s so much to do!” While that’s certainly true, I’m often completely out of the loop on what’s happening right in front of me.

But on a recent visit to New York City, I suddenly felt what every visitor to London must experience: a sense of endless possibilities. There is so much to do, see and explore. And this time I decided to act more like a curious newcomer than a resident.

This past weekend alone provided a perfect glimpse into the richness of the world of music, especially violin, in this city. Friday night I went to a concert at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. There, 23-year-old violinist Maria Dueñas performed Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of her longtime teacher Manfred Honeck.

Just two days later, ten blocks south, I was at Carnegie Hall for a Colorado Symphony Orchestra concert. The orchestra featured the legendary Itzhak Perlman with the orchestra’s music director Peter Orjan.

Both events had an event feel to them. Dueñas was making his New York Philharmonic debut and had already built an impressive career through competition wins, acclaimed recordings, and a busy international schedule. Perlman, who celebrated his 80th birthday last year, appeared with Ornjan in a performance that showcased their decades-long friendship and professional partnership.

Dueñas performed an elegant and fluid reading of Beethoven at the Wu Tsai Theater. The warm acoustics highlighted the silvery resonance of her Galliano violin in its highest registers and the sharp bite of the orchestra’s lower strings in its more powerful moments. There were several standing ovations, and she asked for an encore. Song of VeslemoiHalvorsen’s No.4 Mosaic suite.

Perlman’s concerts, by contrast, felt like intimate salons. He introduced each piece with his trademark wit and self-deprecating humor, quickly joking with Ornjan: “I don’t remember rehearsing this piece, do you?” His program consisted of short, crowd-pleasing favorites such as Chrysler miniatures and John Williams miniatures. schindler’s list themeGardel’s Tango (Por Una Cabeza) – He said, “These songs are already encores, so we don’t need an encore.”

It is unusual for these works to be performed with a full orchestra rather than a piano. Orjan, often hunched over the podium, repeatedly urged the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s weakened forces to keep it light in texture. Perlman may not have the dynamic gravitas of his early years, but what remains undiminished is his unmistakable personality and expressiveness. This was most poignantly heard in his words schindler’s list The performance drew praise from the New York audience.

The two concerts could not have been more different. One mesmerized with youthful virtuosity, the other made listeners lean in. One commemorated the birth of a rising star, the other celebrated the timeless artistry of a cultural icon. But both nights were soaked in the power of musical partnership. Dueñas and Honeck strengthened the collaboration that has shaped her young career, while Perlman and Ornjian renewed the bond forged through decades of teaching, music-making, and mutual admiration.

What struck me most over the weekend was not only the quality of the performances, but the sheer enthusiasm of the audience in New York, a city that embraces violin in all its forms, from boundary-pushing young artists to beloved virtuosos. New York’s dedication to the violin is especially vibrant at a time when many are seeking solace, inspiration, and connection through live performance.

And the celebration continues. Later this month, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will hold its annual Winter Festival. violin visionaries (February 20th to March 8th) promises to be yet another reminder of how deeply this city values ​​its instruments and the artists who bring them to life.