***CANCELED*** – Cello Recital with James Waldo

Photo by Keni Rosalis

WHEN: Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 – 9:00 pm
WHERE: The Commons Theater
COST: $10 suggested donation

Due to current health concerns about public gatherings, The Commons and James Waldo have chosen to POSTPONE this concert until later in the Spring. Thank you for your understanding.

PROGRAM:
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Cello Suite No. 5* in C minor BWV 1011
(~1717-23 – Köthen, Germany)
J. S. Bach
*The suite will be performed scordatura (special tuning) on a baroque cello by modern American make Jason Viseltear, on loan from the Five Partners Foundation in New York City. 
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Starlighter I for solo cello
(1995 – Madison, WI, USA)
Leslie Thimmig*
*Professor of jazz and composition studies at UW-Madison – James Waldo performed the world premiere of Starlighter I at the Madison New Music Festival in 2019.
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Sonata for solo cello
(1948/53 – Budapest, Hungary)
György Ligeti 
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A native of Minnesota, cellist James Waldo leads a musical career marked by diversity and adventure. Waldo, a Suzuki cello student through high school, had the opportunity to play for Yo-Yo Ma at age 11. This inspiring moment convinced Waldo that music can be a powerful force for good, and he has been pursuing ways to live out this dream ever since. Waldo performs regularly with his wife, pianist Alyona Aksyonova, as the A.W.Duo. The duo tours regularly around the U.S., and recently completed its first tour of northeast China. The duo is ensemble-in-residence for Center City Concerts at St. Peters in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has appeared in concert at Lincoln Center, Piccolo Spoleto, and numerous chamber music series.

After living and working in New York City for nine years, Waldo relocated with his wife Alyona and daughter Sofia to Madison in 2017 to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree under the tutelage of Uri Vardi at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to his musical studies, Waldo is currently receiving full funding as a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellow, with a focus on the Russian language. He received his Master of Music and Artist Diploma with Timothy Eddy at Mannes College, the New School for Music.

A specialist on baroque cello and viola da gamba, Waldo is a founding member of LeStrange Viols and has collaborated with acclaimed period musicians Monica Huggett and Ron MacFarlane. Waldo recently made his debut with the Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door County, Madison Bach Musicians, Just Bach, and the Madison New Music Festival. In addition to frequent appearances as a performer, Waldo serves as program coordinator to Grace Presents, a free, public offering of monthly concerts at Grace Church on the Capitol Square. Waldo is also an avid teacher, and maintains a devoted studio of young cellists.