Sabbatical over, violinist to play

It's been a long time since Gerald Elias has given a recital in Salt Lake City. But that's understandable. He's just returned from a yearlong sabbatical from the Utah Symphony, where he's the associate concertmaster, and in between his musical and literary activities (he is now also a published mystery novelist), life has been pretty hectic.

So when the opportunity arose to do a recital as part of the University of Utah's Sundays@7 series, he grabbed it. "I'm looking forward to this," he told the Deseret News in a phone interview from his home shortly before leaving for New York for a book signing.

It's not like he's been depriving himself musically, though. He was able to squeeze in a few recitals during his sabbatical, he said. "I gave a few recitals (with pianist and former Utah resident Marjorie Janove) in Portland last year. And last summer I had a chance to perform with pianist Victor Rosenbaum in Massachusetts."

Rosenbaum will be Elias' musical partner at today's recital in Libby Gardner Concert Hall that features violin sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms.

The two first met three years ago at the Heifetz Institute in New Hampshire. "We decided we would play some sonatas together, and we found that we really meshed," Elias said. "We were determined to plan ways to perform together." Last summer Elias and Rosenbaum gave their first public recitals.

For their concert today, they'll play three sonatas that Elias considers to be among the greatest: Mozart's Sonata in B flat major, K. 454; Brahms' Sonata in A major, op. 100; and Beethoven's Sonata in C minor, op. 30, no. 2.

Elias loves all three. "The Mozart has one of the most gorgeous slow movements he ever wrote," he said. "And the Beethoven is something special. It's essentially a concerto for violin and piano."

While he's in town, Rosenbaum will also hold master classes at the U. "It's all part of a package that Susan Duehl?meier put together for him," Elias said.

At the end of the concert, Elias will sign copies of his mystery "Devil's Trill." The books will be provided by The King's English Bookshop, and all proceeds will be donated to the U.'s music scholarship fund.

e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com

If you go …

What: Gerald Elias, violin; Victor Rosenbaum, piano

Where: Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah

When: 7 p.m. today (Oct. 25)

How much: Free

Web: music.utah.edu/events/sundaysat7