Newport Classical presents powerhouse duo, adds 2nd performance by Kelli O’Hara in July

The daffodils are in full bloom outside the Newport Classical office, signaling that it’s glorious springtime!

We are looking ahead to this summer while reveling in our ongoing Chamber Series, bringing A-list classical artists to downtown Newport year-round to perform at our welcoming home venue, the Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn Street). Our Chamber Series offers thrilling and intimate performances for a growing community of music lovers, and evenings include a glass of wine and mingling at intermission.

Before I dive into this month’s Chamber Series concert – a special announcement. We have added a second performance by Broadway and opera star Kelli O’Hara (currently starring in HBO’s The Gilded Age, filmed in Newport), during the Newport Classical Music Festival, which runs from July 4-23 and now includes 27 concerts. Following an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the July 20 performance, we will welcome Kelli for a second concert on Wednesday, July 19 at 8 p.m. at The Breakers. Tickets are on sale now at www.newportclassical.org/music-festival. To be the first to know about additional concerts like this, email us at info@newportclassical.org to join our mailing list.

Back to this spring! This Friday, April 21, we are thrilled to be presenting the Mesa-Yakushev Duo, two world-class soloists combining forces in a powerhouse duo with international flair. Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev is known for his musical pyrotechnics, and Cuban-American cellist Thomas Mesa is celebrated as one of the most charismatic and engaging soloists of his generation. The two musicians have joined together to form a duo of equal footing, showcasing core works from the classical canon alongside pieces by the next generation of great composers.

The first half of the program begins in turn-of-the-century France with one of Massenet’s most famous pieces, Meditation from Thaïs, known for beautifully showcasing the cello’s tone, followed by a charming set of three works by Nadia Boulanger. Next, Andrea Casarrubios and Kevin Day explore unique techniques and capabilities of the cello in two contemporary compositions – Silbo and Cello Sonata No. 1. Rachmaninoff’s rapturously virtuosic Sonata for Cello and Piano closes out this exhilarating program.

Cellist Thomas Mesa is the winner of the First Prize in the 2016 Sphinx Competition. His performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl were seen by over 30,000 people. Of his performances with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, “A listener with closed eyes would have been hard-pressed to distinguish his shapely, expressive performance from that of an artist two or three times his age." Pianist Ilya Yakushev has performed all over the world, and won the World Piano Competition in 2005. His playing has been hailed as “little short of heroic” by The New York Times.

As part of Newport Classical’s desire to create connections between classical music, the artists who perform it, and the Newport community, Thomas and Ilya will visit a Newport-area public school to perform for and speak with students, through Newport Classical’s Music Engagement Initiative.

Up next, we’ll be presenting a free, casual Community Concert featuring eGALitarian Brass on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Church, in a mix of classical, jazz, pop, and Latin music for brass quintet. This kid-friendly concert features exciting fanfare for brass quintet by Zoe Cutler and Katahj Copley, new works exploring relationships and transformation by Chloe Rowlands and Lillian Yee, Latin-inspired romantic tangos, beloved songs by Norah Jones and Aretha Franklin, and some special surprises, too. We hope you will join us.

In advance of their concert on April 21, we caught up with Thomas and Ilya to find out what they are looking forward to about coming to Newport:

Newport Classical: Which piece on this program are you the most excited to perform and why?

Mesa-Yakushev Duo: We always look forward to performing all the pieces on each program. The centerpiece of our program in Newport is Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano. It is much more substantial than other pieces and takes up the whole second half of the concert. It is one of the best-known works in the repertoire for this combination of instruments and audiences always look forward to hearing it played live as it is one of the most challenging works besides being one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed. 2023 is also a very special year for Rachmaninoff — it is his 150th anniversary and we are excited to celebrate that wonderful date by playing one of his prominent works just days after his birthday.

Newport Classical: How do you curate programs for recitals?

Mesa-Yakushev Duo: We are also proud to present some of our contemporary repertoire in our concerts — works by the young composers Andrea Casarrubios and Kevin Day. We always try to make our programs diverse and exciting for our listeners by presenting not only hits from the classical repertoire, but also some very beautiful works by living composers.

Newport Classical: What is your approach to educational engagement and what is your favorite age range to engage?

Mesa-Yakushev Duo: It’s important to know your audience. Depending on how old they are, having a general idea of their previous experience with music, and knowing how large the audience will be are always questions we have before doing community engagement. We don’t really have a preference as long as there’s curiosity and excitement for what we’re communicating!

Newport Classical: Is there anything you are looking forward to doing in Newport?

Mesa-Yakushev Duo: Of course, this concert! We’re also open to any suggestions on things to do while we’re there — although we have a very quick trip. Food recommendations are encouraged!

Tickets for Newport Classical’s concerts can be purchased online at www.newportclassical.org or by calling the Box Office at 401-849-1133 x1.

Trevor S. Neal is the director of Artistic Planning and Engagement at Newport Classical.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Classical presents Powerhouse Duo at April concert