Denève: Prokofiev's Violin

James Ehnes performs both of Prokofiev’s violin concertos in a New World Symphony program devoted to the composer’s sharp wit, lyricism and orchestral color. Denève: Prokofiev’s Violin takes place Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 22 at 2 p.m. at the New World Center in Miami Beach. Conducted by Stéphane Denève, the concert is part of New World Symphony’s 2026-2027 season.

The program traces several sides of Prokofiev’s musical world, opening with his buoyant Classical Symphony, led by NWS Conducting Fellow Ziwei Ma. Ehnes then performs the First Violin Concerto, written before Prokofiev left Russia, and the Second Violin Concerto, composed nearly two decades later as his years abroad were nearing an end. The concert closes with the suite from The Love for Three Oranges, drawn from the composer’s satirical opera.

Ehnes is an internationally acclaimed violinist whose recordings have earned Grammy, Gramophone and Juno awards, and he performs on the 1715 “Marsick” Stradivarius. Denève, New World Symphony’s Artistic Director, is also Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. Ma is a New World Symphony Conducting Fellow and a 2026-28 Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship award recipient.