Bell, Haywood perform at Musical Arts Center

Those attending Joshua Bell and Sam Haywood’s performance at the Musical Arts Center on Tuesday were taught a lesson in etiquette. 

After completing the second movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonata in C Minor,” the acclaimed violinist raised an index finger, silently hushing the applauding crowd.

Traditionally, applause is held until the completion of the final movement. Lesson learned.

The acclaimed violinist and pianist joined efforts for a concert benefitting the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s elementary instrumental programs.

The pair performed classic works such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Sonata in B-Flat Major,” Maurice Ravel’s “Sonata for Violin and Piano” and Pablo de Sarasate’s “Introduction and Tarantella” to an enthusiastic full crowd.

Bell played his signature violin — the famous, 300-year-old Gibson ex-Huberman Stradivarius.

Throughout the recital, the two musicians occasionally turned their heads to smile at each other and clasped hands in a quick, enthusiastic hand shake, before bowing as the performance went into intermission.

Freshman Alyssa Kersey said she was impressed by the musicians’ playing.
“Joshua Bell is very expressive and the piano’s amazing too,” she said.

Julie Popiel, a booking agent for the Jacobs School of Music, attended the concert with her son Nick, a sixth grader at University Elementary School. They, too, said they were impressed with Bell’s expressiveness.

“The slightest amount of sound he can get out of that 300-year-old violin is amazing,” Popiel said. “Very dramatic and fun to watch.”

Nick said he agreed.

“I think it’s interesting,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything like that before.”

Freshman Renee Albrecht said she admired the cause the concert benefitted.

“Encouraging young students to participate in music is really great and I think anyway we can help schools with their music program is important,” she said.