Given that violinist Sarah Chang is recognized by the critics as one of the world’s greatest violinists, it’s only reasonable to wonder how she can possibly deal with the accolades and tributes.
But Sarah Chang, at 31, seems perfectly grounded; some 23 years after her professional debut, she credits her solid upbringing, even as she performs Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor on the Strathmore stage Sunday.
“From the time I started [my] career, my parents were very careful and would never allow me to read any of my reviews,” she said, as plainly as stating her parents wouldn’t allow her to play outdoors after dark.
| Onstage |
| Violinist Sarah Chang with the National Philharmonic |
| Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda |
| When: 3 p.m. Sunday; Lecture 1:45 p.m. |
| Info: $28 to $81; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org |
“They were so protective and I would ask them why,” she continued. “They said if the reviews were good and people were overly praising, [I] would get a big head and become this impossible diva to deal with. And if there was a bad review, it would affect my next concert. They wanted to protect me both ways, [and] that became a way of life for me.”
On Sunday, she is working with the National Philharmonic under the baton of Piotr Gajewski. The afternoon’s ambitious repertoire includes Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Op. 26, Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in F Major and Ms. Chang’s beloved Violin Concerto in E Minor.
“I love this concerto,” Chang said. “It’s one of those beautiful, incredibly challenging [pieces] and probably one of the most balanced and exquisitely written concertos for the violin.”
Because Sarah Chang played the piece so often, even recording at age 16, she decided to give it a rest. She would not revisit the concerto for 10 years, but when she finally did, she “completely fell in love with it” all over again and couldn’t wait to show off its grandeur.
“I’m hoping to give the audience an evening to remember,” she said. “That, for me, would be a huge honor.”
