Rachel Barton Pine to perform with WSO and at Virtuosi Concerts this week
World-renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine is set to captivate Winnipeg audiences this week with two exciting performances alongside the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) and in collaboration with Virtuosi Concerts. Known for her boundary-pushing musical versatility, Barton Pine's concerts promise a dynamic mix of genres—from classical to metal.
Two Performances, One Week
On February 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., Barton Pine will join the WSO at Centennial Concert Hall for the world premiere of Harry Stafylakis's Violin Concerto. This 28-minute composition merges heavy metal with classical music, and Barton Pine’s powerful interpretation will blend shredding rhythms with soaring melodies. "I love the fact that it has all the shredding you could possibly want," she says of the piece. Inspired by Stafylakis's passion for metal, the concerto also explores a fascinating narrative involving artificial superintelligence and the human experience—think Ex Machina meets Star Trek: Picard, all set to the sound of a violin. "I wonder if this is the world's first science fiction-flavored violin concerto," she reflects.
The very next day, February 28, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., Barton Pine will perform a solo concert titled American Traditions at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in the serene Garden of Contemplation. The program features works by Bach, Mark O’Connor, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and others, showcasing Barton Pine’s exceptional versatility as she moves between classical, folk, and more. "I'm so happy to be doing it and I can't wait to check out the museum," she adds.
From Metal to Classical and Back Again
Barton Pine’s deep connection to both classical and rock music is evident in her career. She explains the cross-pollination between these two worlds, noting that extreme subgenres of metal are often influenced by classical music. "There are so many stories of these guys, like just listening to a lot of classical, feeling like classical has inspired and informed what they're composing," she shares. She takes joy in bringing the intensity and power of metal into the classical realm, bridging the gap for listeners who may not typically attend classical performances. "I feel like I actually became a better communicator, even though the emotional palette of really loud metal is certainly more narrow than all that we do in classical."
Her past collaborations, like the Dependent Arising CD featuring Earl Maneein's concerto inspired by metal, show how classical music can absorb elements from other genres. This new concerto by Stafylakis continues that theme. "It's like kind of following my journey, you know, kind of growing in my humanity, but also having these moments that are clearly very, very industrial feeling," she reflects.
For those unfamiliar with classical music, Barton Pine sees these performances as an opportunity to connect with new audiences. "Anything can be filtered through the lens of the symphony and come out something greater than the sum of its parts," she said. "Classical music can be anything, and so it's a really fun set list."
A Unique Experience for All
Having played in rock bands like Earthen Grave, Barton Pine is no stranger to the electric energy of live performances. She explains how playing metal in a band contrasts with performing in a symphony. In rock, "real-time feedback" from the audience—whether through headbanging or crowd interaction—offers a stark contrast to the more reserved atmosphere of classical performances. "Culturally, in the context of a performance, in classical, people wait till the end of a movement... in rock, it's totally different. It's what I call real-time feedback," she says.
This week, Winnipeg audiences are in for an unforgettable experience—whether it’s the power of Stafylakis’s new concerto or the intimate atmosphere of her solo recital. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary chance to see one of the world’s most versatile violinists in action.
Virtuosi Concert
Rachel Barton Pine Talks American Traditions and Black Composers
Pine expressed her excitement about performing both a concerto and a solo recital in the same city. "It's so satisfying to visit a town for the first time and play both a concerto and a recital," she said.
The American Traditions program is a rich tapestry of music, ranging from Bach to contemporary works, with a special focus on Black composers. Her setlist includes not only American fiddling and jazz but also a piece by Daniel Bernard Roumain, whose hip-hop-inspired violin playing adds a unique flavor to the classical world.
Pine has long been dedicated to uncovering and sharing music by Black composers, which led her to establish the Music by Black Composers Foundation. Many composers she champions, like Noel de Costa, have faced challenges in having their works overlooked due to historical barriers. De Costa’s dance tunes, featured on Pine’s Blues Dialogues album, exemplify this hidden treasure of American classical music. "I started this journey not thinking about social justice," she explained, "but just thinking about all this great music that’s been neglected."
Pine spoke with passion about discovering composers like de Costa, who was born in Nigeria to Jamaican parents but spent much of his life in the United States. "He's considered an African American composer, an African composer, and a Caribbean composer. Everyone wants to claim him," she joked. She recalled the challenges of bringing de Costa’s music to life, noting that the manuscripts were difficult to read until her foundation could have them engraved and made available to others. "It turned out to be even better than I had thought," Pine remarked.
The concert will also feature music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson, two cornerstones of Black American classical music. Pine’s commitment to diversity in classical music is reflected not only in her repertoire but also in her personal journey of discovery. She explained that while her initial interest in Black composers was driven by her passion for great music, she soon recognized the broader social value of her exploration. "You know, it’s actually for everything that's going wrong, it is an exciting time for music research," she adds.
For Pine, this concert represents a cross-section of the American musical experience. “American traditional music was a blend of West African and British Isles music,” she said. This fusion of influences created a uniquely American sound, and Pine’s performance will showcase various styles from fiddling to blues and jazz.
The program will also include works by Mark O'Connor, with whom Pine has a long-standing relationship. She recalled how O'Connor, a basketball fan, invited her to join his multi-styles fiddle camp after seeing her perform the national anthem at a Chicago Bulls playoff game. Pine has since embraced various fiddling styles, even performing a Scottish fiddle medley during the concert, which she explained is rooted in classical traditions but uniquely its own.
Pine’s deep connection to Bach’s music will also shine through in this performance, with selections from his dances starting the program. Reflecting on her personal relationship with Bach, she recalled her first experiences with his music in church as a child. "I was embarrassingly old before I figured out that Bach wasn't in the Bible," she laughs. "Bach's music has a very spiritual quality to it," she says. "It really brings me very close to the reason I’m a musician, which is to nurture people's spirits."
Her diverse program promises to be a musical feast, showcasing a broad spectrum of styles and voices that have shaped American music. "Once you hear it, you fall in love with it," Pine concluded, urging the audience to experience this incredible repertoire, which for too long has remained out of the spotlight.
Pine’s American Traditions concert isn’t just a performance—it’s a celebration of cultural exchange, exploration, and the enduring power of music to connect and inspire.
