Jassen Todorov, violin, and Sarkis Baltaian, piano

Program

• Beethoven (1770–1827): Sonata in G major, Op. 30, No. 3 (1803)
• Saint-Saëns (1825–1921): Sonata in D minor, Op. 75 (1885)

Todorov won a 2006 Crystal Lyre Award, the highest honor for achievement in music and dance in his native Bulgaria. At age 26, he became the youngest musician to record all six violin sonatas of Eugene Ysaye. Todorov has also recorded Brahms’ three violin sonatas. Dubbed “a player to watch” by music journal The Strad, Todorov has played and taught master classes throughout Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S. and garnered much acclaim for his intense, original musicianship. He has performed more than 200 solo recitals, at venues such as Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

Sarkis Baltaian has gained an international reputation as a concert pianist, chamber musician, recording artist and pedagogue. He has been praised by critics for his “beautiful tone and ability to project even the most delicate pianissimos” and compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his performance of Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall Debut in 1999 and has performed extensively both as recitalist and concerto soloist with major orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. He earned his Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at University of Southern California under the direction of renowned pedagogue and concert artist John Perry. Baltaian is an assistant professor of music at University of Alabama, Huntsville.