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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Play with Ray

Ray Chen performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2022.

July 25, 2023
Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

The Taiwanese-Australian Ray Chen, camera-worthy superstar of the violin, shares the spotlight with three virtuosi-in-waiting in Bach’s sublime three-movement Concerto in D minor for Two Violins. (In their minds’ eyes, balletomanes will be screening Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, which raises sublimity to a higher power). On his own, Chen knocks off Astor Piazzola’s cheeky The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and his own arrangement of that corny Aussie favorite, “Waltzing Matilda.” Also on the program: Samuel Barber’s austere Adagio for Strings. —Matthew Gurewitsch

Photo: Daniel Boud