Music of Masks

Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite takes center stage together with Prokofiev’s 2nd Violin Concerto. Plus hear the new work by this year’s Keitler Competition winner!

Appearances are never quite what they seem—and nowhere is that more delightfully apparent than in Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite. Inspired by the mischievous hero of the commedia dell’arte tradition, Pulcinella tells a tale of feigned deaths, tangled romances, and comic misunderstandings. Stravinsky’s playful score taps into the timeless allure of theatrical make-believe by breathing new life into familiar musical forms.

Praised for her “gleaming tone” (Gramophone) and “brilliance of the lyrical passages” (Classicamente), 23-year-old violinist, Christina Nam, has concertized around the world appearing in recitals and as a soloist with numerous orchestras. Nam received First
Prize at the Ysaye International Music Competition 2026 in Korea, and is a recipient of the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant 2026. She was awarded the Juilliard Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music, as well as the Prix Reyl Award for violinists at the Verbier Festival Academy 2025, where she returned as an Academy artist the summer of 2026. She joins the COT to perform Prokofiev’s 2nd Violin Concerto, showcasing the work’s lyrical and emotional depth in the finale of our 26-27 concert season!

Estimated Duration: 90 minutes with Intermission