Edwin Kim must really like us.
The violin virtuoso is making his third appearance with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, this time to tackle Elgar’s magnificently emotional Violin Concerto.
Kim will join the orchestra for three performances — at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Valley Presbyterian Church, 2800 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley; at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at DesertView Performing Arts Center, 39900 S. Clubhouse Drive, SaddleBrooke; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 7650 N. Paseo Del Norte, Oro Valley.
About the violinist: Kim, who lives and teaches in his native South Korea, was studying violin only a year when he won his first music competition. He was 8. He went on to take home the top prize in five international music competitions and has performed with leading orchestras in Europe and Asia.
He made his first SASO appearance in November 2013 playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. In February 2015, he returned to play Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.
About the program: In addition to the Elgar, the orchestra will perform Elgar’s regal “Pomp and Circumstance” March No. 4 and Tchaikovsky’s swoonable “Swan Lake” Suite.
About the Elgar: It was dedicated to and played by Fritz Kreisler in 1910 with the London Symphony Orchestra. Elgar conducted.
The Violin Concerto is one of Elgar’s longest orchestral compositions, clocking in at more than 50 minutes, and it was the last of his works to find immediate popular favor.
Tickets: For Green Valley and Oro Valley, $23 in advance at sasomusic.org or at the door. For SaddleBrooke, it’s $24 in advance at tickets.saddlebrooketwo.com or by calling or 825-2818; $25 at the door.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com or 573-4642. On Twitter @Starburch