F. POULENC (1899-1963)

SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO 

I. Allegro con fuoco

II. Intermezzo

III. Presto tragico

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J. BRAHMS (1833-1897)

VIOLIN SONATA NO. 2 IN A MAJOR, OP. 100 ‘THUN’

I. Allegro amabile 

II. Andante tranquillo — Vivace — Andante — Vivace di più — Andante — Vivace 

III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andante) 

INTERVAL – 20 MIN.

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R. STRAUSS (1864-1949)

VIOLIN SONATA IN E-FLAT MAJOR, TRV.151, OP. 18

I. Allegro, ma non troppo

II. Improvisation: Andante cantabile

III. Finale: Andante - Allegro

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Yamen Saadi, Violin

Julien Quentin, Piano

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At age 25, Yamen Saadi was announced as Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic from the 22/23 season. Described as having a “beguiling sound” by Berliner Morgenpost, Saadi maintains a busy career as both a soloist and chamber musician. His playing is characterised by serene lyricism, virtuosity and elegance beyond his years. In May 2022, he stepped in for Leonidas Kavakos to make his debut with the Israel Philharmonic as soloist.

As a soloist, Saadi has performed with orchestras such as Staatskapelle Berlin, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra de València and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, among others. Saadi has performed with conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Lionel Bringuier, Lawrence Foster, Leonidas Kavakos, Christoph Poppen and Lahav Shani.

Saadi has performed in recitals and concerto at various festivals and venues across Europe, Asia and the US. These include Carnegie Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Rheingau Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Pau Casals Festival, Jerusalem Festival and Schloss Elmau. In November 2023, he makes his recital debut in Tokyo at the Hamarikyu Asahi Hall and the Musashino Civic Cultural Hall.

In January 2022, Saadi released his first recital album Voices From Paris to critical acclaim. Recorded with pianist Nathalia Milstein and featuring works by Poulenc, Ysaÿe and Fauré, Saadi’s album was described as:

“the blend of virtuosity, lyricism and controlled expressivity” -Pizzicato.

As a chamber musician, Saadi co-founded the award-winning Chianti Ensemble. The piano quintet tours Europe and was awarded the prestigious Kersjes Prize in 2022.

Yamen Saadi was born in Nazareth and began studying the violin at the Barenboim-Said Conservatory in Nazareth, before studying under the guidance of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster, Chaim Taub. At age 11, he joined the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and, at age 17, became concertmaster of the orchestra. Saadi completed his Bachelor’s degree at the Barenboim-Said Academy and gained his Master’s degree at the Kronberg Academy where he studied with Mihaela Martin. In 2020, Saadi won first prize at both the Aviv and Paul Ben Haim Competitions in 2020, and has held scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and The Prince von Hessen Award.

Yamen Saadi plays the 1734 “Lord Amherst of Hackney” Stradivari violin, previously owned by Fritz Kreisler, and a Jacob Eury bow, both generously loaned to him by Stephan Jansen on behalf of a member of the Stretton Society.

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