Chalifour to perform two concerts on Stradivarius

Martin Chalifour, concertmaster of Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform two concerts on a Stradivarius violence this week.

Chalifour will perform on a Stradivarius violin, created in 1711 and once owned by the renowned 20th century composer Fritz Kreisler. Pianist Cary Lewis of the Lanier Trio will accompany Chalifour on Monday in Kona and Wednesday in Honokaa.

“I look forward to bringing this violin from the dry Southern California climate to the warm, moist air in Hawaii. The instrument happily should remember the humid Italian mountain air where it was born 300 years ago,” said Chalifour.

The shows are the second series of Stradivarius concerts presented by the Hawaii Performance Arts Festival this year. Proceeds support the HPAF student scholarship program and the 2017 Summer Festival.

Chalifour, a native of Quebec, Canada, joined the Los Angeles orchestra in 1965. Gaining musical recognition from an early age, he came to wide prominence upon receiving a Certificate of Honor at Moscow’s International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1986, with a laureate at the Montreal International Musical Competition the following year. His professional achievements have made him a much-sought-after orchestral violinist, soloist, and chamber musician.

The Kona concert is slated for 7 p.m. and will be held at a private residence in Kona. Tickets are $80 and include wine and light refreshments. Seating for this performance is very limited.

The second performance, held at The People’s Theatre in Honokaa, is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Tickets may be purchased at www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org or by calling (808) 333-7378. ■