Masterworks Series

Pines of Rome

March 13-15 2026

Belding Theater at The Bushnell
Friday & Saturday at 8 PM
Sunday at 3 PM

Program

Smetana, The Bartered Bride Overture

Gabriela Lena Frank, Apu (2017)

Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 3, K. 216 “Strassburg”

Respighi, Pines of Rome

Featuring

Kalena Bovell, conductor
Solomiya Ivakhiv, violin

About

Kalena Bovell conducts a program of orchestral grandeur. Respighi’s Pines of Rome, last performed by HSO in 2013, brings the Italian landscape to life with sweeping brass fanfares, atmospheric sounds, and lush harmonies.

Smetana’s The Bartered Bride Overture adds a lively and spirited touch, showcasing vibrant melodies and rhythmic energy that capture the essence of Czech folk traditions. Gabriela Lena Frank’s Apu draws from Andean culture, blending folk influences with modern textures, while Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 showcases sparkling elegance and unexpected warmth, featuring Ukrainian violinist and UCONN professor, Solomiya Ivakhiv.

From Respighi’s breathtaking vistas to Smetana’s exuberant overture, Frank’s rich soundscapes, and Mozart’s lyrical charm, this concert offers a dynamic experience of breadth and depth.

Concert Sponsor:

The Koski Memorial Concert

Violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv is praised for her “crystal clear and noble sound” (Culture and Life, Ukraine) and acclaimed for her “distinctive charm and subtle profundity” (Daily Freeman, New York).

She is celebrated as a soloist, recitalist and chamber music collaborator, as a champion of new music and as a dedicated educator.

Learn more: https://solomiyaivakhiv.com/

With her distinctive voice as maestra, speaker, and poet, critics praise Panamanian-American conductor Kalena Bovell as “one of the brightest stars in classical music.” (Channel 3 News, Connecticut).  In 2023, she made history as the first Black woman to conduct an opera in Canada, leading a world-premiere reimagining of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. She is the 2024 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and a former Taki Alsop Conducting Fellow. The 2025–2026 season brings debuts with New World Symphony, Redlands Symphony, and Acadiana Symphony, as well as a homecoming with the Hartford Symphony. Bovell also rejoins the Chineke! Orchestra for their 10-year anniversary season, marking her first collaboration with them since their BBC Proms performance in 2021. Raised in Los Angeles, she began private violin study at 18 and now shares her journey to inspire musicians from nontraditional backgrounds.

Learn More: https://www.kalenabovell.com/

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Attend the FREE pre-concert talk with Maestro Kuan or special guest one hour before the concert!

Bring your smartphone to access our digital Playbill- don’t forget to silence it!

Grab a drink or bite from one of our convenient bar/café locations, and feel free to bring to your seat.

Applaud when you like what you hear – don’t worry about the “right” time!

Wear what you want – be comfortable.

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