CANCELLED - Beethoven Violin Concerto

Universally recognized among today’s top performing artists, Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman is acclaimed for his appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, London Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw under Riccardo Chailly, Christoph von Dohnányi, Tugan Sokhiev, Santtu-Matias Rouvali and other leading conductors.

Mr. Gluzman has introduced the public to new works by Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli, Moritz Eggert, Elena Firsova, Lera Auerbach and Pēteris Vasks, and is planning premiere preformances of the new violin concerto by Erkki-Sven Tüür.

Accolades for Gluzman's striking catalogue of recordings for the BIS label include the Diapason d’Or of the Year, Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice, Classica magazine’s Choc de Classica award, and Disc of the Month by The Strad, BBC Music Magazine, and ClassicFM.

Bob Haluska (Falstaff) first performed on the Embassy stage in Gregory Stieber's Beethoven Revealed and is grateful to be back under Andrew Constantine's baton. He is a consummate lover of Shakespeare and has performed the witty fool Feste, Duke Senior and Duke Frederick in As You Like It, and most recently Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (FPT). Other roles in the Fort Wayne area include Spring Awakening (TRMT), The Rocky Horror Show Live (Civic), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (PFW), and Henry II in The Lion in Winter.

Kevin Torwelle (Prince Henry) has been doing theatre in Fort Wayne for over a decade, where he has played everything from a Shakespearean prince to a mall elf. Recent favorites include The Laramie Project (PFW Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Parlor City Shakespeare), The Comedy of Errors (Shakespearemachine), David Sedaris’ one-man show The Santaland Diaries (First Presbyterian Theatre), and The 39 Steps (FW Civic). When not on stage, Kevin teaches at Canterbury School, restores old photographs, and spends his time attempting to amuse his wife and infant son. His son is usually more entertained by his antics.

Nick Tash (Shallow) has appeared professionally in local and regional productions. After performing in his first Shakespeare production, The Merchant of Venice, Nick founded and was artistic director of Shakespearemachine, a Fort Wayne-based theatre company that combined mask work with classical texts. He has directed such works as The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It, Doctor Faustus, and Macbeth.

Jim Nelson (Bardolph) has worked at most of the theaters in the Fort Wayne area. He was last seen as Mrs. Trunchbull in Fort Wayne Civic Theatre’s Matilda. Other appearances include Arena Theatre: Clue, Boeing Boeing, Moon Over Buffalo, First Presbyterian Theatre: The Foreigner, Escanaba in Da Moonlight, It’s Only a Play, Present Laughter, PFW: Assassins, The Rivals, Bye Bye Birdie, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Anthony James Didier (Pistol) is an Anthony Award winner with the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. Professional credits include Frankie in Forever Plaid, Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors, and

Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol with Summit City Music Theatre. He is the lead singer of the Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra, a singer/songwriter, playwright, and the Director of Theatre at Most Precious Blood School. He would like to thank his wife, Vienne and their kids, Faith and Evan for their love and support.

Shelby Lewis (Director) is an actor, director, educator, and audition coach. She holds a BFA Acting from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, MA in Theatre Education, and a particular passion for Shakespeare. Favorite stage credits include Othello (Desdemona), As You Like It (Rosalind), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), King Lear (Goneril), Richard III (Richmond), and Romeo and Juliet (Juliet). Through her company Big Bold Choices, she helps aspiring actors prepare audition monologues they love (www.bigboldchoices.com). This summer, Shelby will be directing As You Like It at Interlochen Arts Camp.

Listen to our Conductor's Choice: Elgar and Beethoven playlist on Spotify.