Hawaii Concert Society to open season with Ukrainian pianist

Courtesy photo The electrifying dancers of Giordano Dance Chicago and the Parisian chamber music group, Trio Karenine, will perform in Hilo as part of the Hawaii Concert Society’s 2022-23 season.
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Some of the world’s finest performers of classical music and dance have East Hawaii in their travel plans. They will be part of the Hawaii Concert Society’s 2022-23 season, its 61st, which begins in October and runs until March 2023.

“After two seasons of virtual concerts, the board of the Hawaii Concert Society is excited to be back to presenting live classical music and dance,” said Board President Tom Geballe. “Despite inflation and increased artist and fees and production costs, the board is keeping ticket prices at pre-pandemic levels.

“In this era of great sound and video systems, the live experience of some of the world’s finest artists performing music by some of the most gifted composers that the world has ever known, gives the audience something unique – a shared deep experience, a simultaneous intimacy with the musicians, with the music, and with one another, and the drama and emotion of experiencing great art on the highest possible level,” he said.

The season will open in late October with the bronze medalist of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the young Ukrainian Dmytro Choni, whose family resides in the war-torn country. Following him in mid-November will be the Dover Quartet.

In early January the Society will once again present Hilo favorite, Joyce Yang, who has graced several of its seasons as piano soloist. This time Yang will perform together with musicians from Honolulu’s Chamber Music Hawaii. Later in the month, the dancers of Giordano Dance Chicago will be on stage.

The season will conclude with renowned artists from across the Atlantic. In February, British cellist Steven Isserlis, whose fame in the United Kingdom is akin to Yo Yo Ma’s in the U.S., will concertize with acclaimed Canadian pianist, Connie Shih.

The Society’s final presentation, in March, will be Trio Karénine from Paris, whose passionate and engaging performances are worthy of Tolstoy’s heroine, Anna Karenina, to whom it owes its name.

The concert dates are as follows: Oct. 23, Dmytro Choni, piano; Nov. 15, Dover String Quartet; Jan. 9, Joyce Yang, piano, with Chamber Music Hawaii; Jan. 25, Giordano Dance Chicago; Feb. 16, Steven Isserlis, cello and Connie Shih, piano; and March 11, Trio Karénine.

A season brochure providing additional information and a ticket order form is available on request by phoning 808-959-4064. Tickets may also be ordered at www.hawaiiconcertsociety.com. Full season tickets are $124 for general admission, $100 for seniors (60+), and $52 for students.

To obtain tickets by return mail before the first concert, orders must be received on or before Oct. 15. Otherwise they may be picked up at the box office on the evening of the first concert on Oct. 23.