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Robert McDuffie, a musician melding charisma with technical brilliance, returns to San Francisco Performances with the Bay Area premiere of Philip Glass's new Violin Concerto No. 2, "The American Four Seasons," one-night only on Nov. 2 at the Herbst Theater. Paired with Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" concerti, the Glass work is the cornerstone of McDuffie's "Seasons Project," also featuring the Venice Baroque Orchestra.

McDuffie, who launched the commission of Glass's "Seasons," described it as "a homerun."

"I knew from the get-go it would be special," he said. "And now I'm itching to take it on the road."

The work has been recorded with Marin Alsop and the London Philharmonic, and all its premieres-in London, Toronto, Rome and Aspen-have sold out.

McDuffie said the idea for the project came because the universality of "The Four Seasons" performances showed an opening for a complementary work by a modern counterpart to Vivaldi. "That's Philip," McDuffie said. "I went to him many years ago and said, 'A lot of people think of you as America's Vivaldi.'"

Glass responded to the challenge by producing what McDuffie has described as "a rock and roll Glass work" that is "achingly beautiful as well."

The renowned Venice Baroque Orchestra, which specializes in Vivaldi, will trade out their period instruments after "The Four Seasons" for modern instruments and a synthesizer for the Glass work. The change heightens the energy, McDuffie said, and "gives a little more punch."

The event happens in San Francisco 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2 at the Herbst Theater. Tickets are $65/$55/$40. Call (415) 392-2545 or visit sfperformances.org.

Official Website: http://www.sfperformances.org

Added by FullCalendar on October 16, 2010

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