YIXUAN LAI: From Romance to Reflection

From Romance to Reflection presents an intimate journey through lyricism, character, and introspection in the violin repertoire. Beginning with the elegance and warmth of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Romance No. 1, the program moves through the expressive miniatures of Antonín Dvořák and the charm of Fritz Kreisler’s beloved salon piece.

At the center of the program, Robert Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 1 introduces a more introspective and psychologically rich voice, bridging the lyrical warmth of the early works with the deeper emotional landscape that follows.

Following intermission, the program turns inward with the depth and poetic sensitivity of Franz Schubert, culminating in Johannes Brahms’s Violin Sonata No. 1, a work of profound lyricism and emotional resonance. Together, these works trace a path from Romantic expression to quiet reflection, highlighting the violin’s unique capacity for both intimacy and intensity.

Yixuan Lai is a violinist and violist currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance at the University of Arizona, studying with Dr. Elena Chernova-Davis. She has performed with ensembles including the Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, Texas Festival Orchestra, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra, and has appeared professionally with the Acadian Symphony Orchestra and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.

Yixuan’s musical interests range from Baroque performance to contemporary repertoire. In 2024, she performed alongside Midori at the Atlantic Music Festival, where she also served as a Program Coordinator. She is passionate about chamber music, orchestral collaboration, and community engagement through music. This performance will also feature pianist Jialiang Li.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Romance No. 1 in G Major, Op. 40 (c. 1798–1802)

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, No. 4 (1887)

Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962)

Schön Rosmarin (1910)

Robert Schumann(1810-1856)

Violin Sonata No.1, Op.105 (1851)

Intermission

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)

Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946, No. 1 (1828)

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)

Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78 (1878–79)