Back by popular demand, classical music performed under the stars by Young Concert Artists (YCA) returns for the second year to LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton with a Sunday series starting on Aug. 18.
To kick off the series, LongHouse invited two celebrated musicians to perform individually and then in unison—accordionist Hanzhi Wang and violinist Oliver Neubauer— for the hour-long event that begins at 5 p.m.
“They’re young, and they’re talented. It’s like magic. They come out and play and everyone’s really happy,” LongHouse Reserve Director Carrie Barratt said.
She’s anticipating another great turnout as not only the concerts, but the LongHouse site itself becomes better known; it has been fully dedicated to serving the public since 1993 with Barratt working to promote this new mission.
Tapping into the “magic” of young performances is LongHouse’s partnership with YCA, which has been supporting youthful talent for more than 60 years.
“We were looking for young performers because that really engages our audiences and it supports the work of youth working in the most beautiful of ways,” Barratt said.
Wang’s rare classical portrayal of the accordion is described as a revelation of the instrument’s power and agility, while Neubauer is known the world over for his mature artistry. Their collaboration will feature Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by French composer Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns.
Both of these young artists have many accolades under their belt. Wang has her master's degree and soloist diploma from the Royal Danish Academy of Music and likes to nurture future accordionists despite a busy schedule that includes performing coast to coast. Among her many awards, Wang stands out as the first accordionist to reap first prize at the YCA Susan Wadsworth intermediate Auditions.
Neubauer is proud to perform on a 1780 J.B. Guadagnini violin on loan from The Julliard School, where the award-winning musician is pursuing his degree. A soloist with many orchestras, he performed with his father in Rome as a highlight of his 2023-24 season. His performances are described as grippingly precise and gleaming by the San Francisco Classical Voice.
Not only the music but the setting will make for an unforgettable night, according to Barratt, who comes to LongHouse from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and New York Botanical Garden.
“We do it outside in our amphitheater surrounded by our Ai Weiwei sculptures and redwood trees, open to the sky, during the twilight hours which are so beautiful at LongHouse,” she said.
She encourages patrons to come early and explore the grounds, as it was Larsen's wish the public would enjoy the sculptures that define the Japanese Shinto Shrine-inspired homestead.
One of the popular features and a symbol of peace is a white chess set with no opponents by artist and singer Yoko Ono, she said. Another crowd-pleaser has been the huge white dome by American architect and engineer Buckminster Fuller.
To find out more about the special performance on Aug. 18 and others to follow, visit longhouse.org. The cost to attend is $20.