Cape Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming Fantastique concert features Edvard Grieg’s enchanting Piano Concerto. We are thrilled to welcome internationally acclaimed pianist Martina Filjak to the Cape Symphony stage to perform it – especially as she has a special connection to our very own concertmaster, Jae Cosmos Lee.
“Martina is the reason I was introduced to the Cape Symphony!” Jae recalls. “Back in 2011, she made two debuts in Boston. A recital at WGBH early in the year led to her returning in November to solo with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, performing the first piano concerto by Brahms. At that time, I was one of the two Concertmasters for that orchestra. She and I connected very well artistically and became fast friends during that week, which led to many long conversations, pasta dinners, and mutual respect by the end of those performances.”
Martina returned to Massachusetts again in January 2012 to perform Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto with the Cape Symphony Orchestra, to feverish acclaim. “By then,” continues Jae, “Cape Symphony was looking for a new concertmaster, and Martina mentioned my name, which was so nice of her! So that spring, I got a call to come lead the orchestra in a trial run for the September shows later that year.” By the end of the 2012/13 season, Jae was chosen to be the Cape Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster, and we’ve been privileged to have him on board ever since! Today, he is our Concertmaster and Managing Artistic Principal.
“Martina and I kept in touch during the following years as her solo career took off, taking her all over the world. I had always wanted to bring her back to Cape Cod.” When asked if there was a soloist he’d be keen to work with, Martina came immediately to mind, and an incredible experience followed. “She returned for a 2019 concert, performing a solo Beethoven variation to start, then as a soloist with the orchestra in an incredible rendition of Beethoven's third piano concerto, this time without a conductor as I led the orchestra from the concertmaster position with the whole orchestra standing,” Jae recalls. “And then the orchestra performed Beethoven's first symphony as a self conducted group. To this day, musicians tell me those concerts were some of the most potent and satisfying experiences of their careers.”
Martina loves performing with orchestras. She enjoys the interaction and exchange of energies between so many musicians on stage. “She's an incredible artist,” says Jae, “but also down to earth, wise, and courteous, especially for someone who goes around the world performing in the most prestigious concert halls and as a soloist with A-list orchestras. I am absolutely delighted that we could bring her back for Fantastique to share the Grieg piano concerto with our audience.”
See Martina Filjak perform Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor with the Cape Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director candidate Alyssa Wang at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center on Saturday, November 16 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 17 at 3:00 PM. This outstanding program also includes the East coast premiere of Jessica Meyer’s Turbulent Flames, and Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Get your tickets today!
