Events

Masterworks, featuring Melody Wootton and Sander Kostallari

Join the Rochester Symphony Orchestra (RSO), under the masterful direction of Maestro Zeljko Milicevic, for a delightful afternoon at the “Masterworks” concert on Sunday, March 16, 2025, 3:00 p.m., at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 620 Romeo Road, Rochester, Michigan. This exquisite performance features magnificent compositions from the heart of European classical music.

The evening opens with the poignant “Suite from Dido and Aeneas,” a Baroque opera by the English composer Henry Purcell. This piece, crafted around 1688, tells a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss. Purcell’s theatrical brilliance shines through, making this work a timeless exploration of human emotion.

Following this stirring piece, we delve into the masterful “Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor BWV 1043,” also known as the “Double Violin Concerto.” Composed by the revered German composer Johann Sebastian Bach around 1730, this late Baroque gem is celebrated for its intricate dialogue between the two violins, featuring Bach’s unparalleled genius and emotional depth. To highlight this renowned classical piece, The RSO proudly presents the illustrious talents of Melody Wootton and Sander Kostallari, two virtuosos whose backgrounds elevate the artistry of their performances.

Following Bach is “A Moorside Suite for String Orchestra,” a poignant composition by the eminent English composer Gustav Holst and was crafted in 1928 during the zenith of his creative journey. This superb piece, originally composed for brass band, embodies the folksong charm that Holst so masterfully infused into his works.

The final pieces feature the exquisite compositions of Russian composer Anton Arensky and Sir Edward Elgar of England. Arensky’s “Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a,” a heartfelt tribute penned in 1894, captures the essence of Tchaikovsky’s legacy through its lush melodies and intricate arrangements for string orchestra. Complementing this is Elgar’s “Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47,” composed in 1905 for the London Symphony Orchestra. This masterpiece showcases the virtuosity of string players through its rich textures and complexity.

The afternoon performance of Masterworks promises to transport you to a realm of musical beauty and artistry, for just $30 for adults and a mere $5 for students. This event begins at 3:00 p.m., and we assure you, it is one that you will not want to miss. Secure your tickets today to witness this remarkable celebration of classical music! Call 248/651-4181 or visit our website at www.rochestersymphony.com/events/masterworks.

Sander Kostallari began playing the violin at the age of six in his hometown of Pogradec, Albania. He continued his studies in Tirana, the capital of Albania, before moving to the U.S., where he graduated from Wayne State University on a full scholarship with a degree in violin performance. He has made solo appearances with The Rochester Symphony, The WSU Symphony, and The International Symphony. His various accomplishments and awards include serving as WSU Symphony Concertmaster (1998-1999), winning the WSU Concerto Competition (1996), being Concertmaster of the International Symphony Orchestra, Principal second violin for the Rochester Symphony, Concertmaster of the Livonia Symphony (2001-2010), and a member of the Flint Symphony Orchestra (2001-present). In the U.S., Sander studied under Geoffrey Applegate and received orchestral and chamber music coaching from Kypros Markou. He also studied the viola with James VanValkenburg and performed in master classes with Joseph Silverstein, Emmanuelle Boisvert, Brian Reagan, Neeme Jarvi, and the Brentano and Borromeo String Quartets.

Melody L. Wootton is an active performer in the Detroit area, playing with various ensembles, including Detroit Opera, Broadway shows that appear in Detroit, and as a substitute violinist with The Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She is the 1st Violinist of the Lexington Bach Festival String Quartet and Principal 2nd Violin of the Lexington Bach Festival Orchestra. Melody was previously a member of the Baldwin Ensemble and the Fishwick-Levine-Wootton Piano Trio. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Master of Music in Violin Performance and Master of Chamber Music degrees from the University of Michigan. Her principal teachers included Andres Cardenes, Donald Weilerstein, and Paul Kantor.