A Transatlantic Journey in Notes

Travel through 250 years of creative exchange between France and the United States

Villa Albertine San Francisco invites you to join us for “A Transatlantic Journey in Notes,” a unique event blending music and scent against the background of the San Francisco Botanical Garden with the Violonist, Second Soloist of the Orchestre National d’Ile de France and perfumer, Yoko Levy-Kobayashi. She will perform live with an ensemble of Opera Parallèle musicians.

This immersive concert will transport audiences through multiple ages of artistic and intellectual exchange through sounds and scents: the era of Enlightenment, the Impressionist movement, and the Jazz age.

Each musical part will be paired with an original historical fragrance, crafted by Lévy-Kobayashi herself.

Program

The Era of Enlightenment
   
Jean-Philippe Rameau “Danse du Grand Calumet” excerpt from “Les Indes galantes” 
Chevalier de Saint-Georges “Rondeau” from his 1^st Quartet 
Léonard Bernstein, “Ouverture de Candide” 

 
The Impressionist Movement 

Claude Debussy, “La fille aux cheveux de Lin” 
Gabriel Fauré, “ Pavane”  

 
The Jazz Age 

Scott Joplin,“Bethena” 
Georges Gerschwin, “An American in Paris “ 
Maurice Ravel, “Boléro” 

Last year’s concert sold out quickly – secure your tickets before they are gone!

About: Yoko Levy-Kobayashi, Violinist and Perfumer 
Strasbourg-born Yoko Lévy-Kobayashi began playing the violin at the age of 10, initiated by her music-loving parents. She studied for several years at the CNR de Metz with André Pons, and took part in masterclasses with Veda Reynolds and Jean-Jacques Kantorow. Encouraged by Kantorow, she entered the CNSM de Paris in Olivier Charlier’s class, and chamber music with Jean Mouillère and Alain Meunier. 

Three years later, she obtained her DFS with honors, and subsequently joined the Soloist Department of the CNR de Paris, where she perfected her skills with Roland Daugareil. 
A lover of the symphonic repertoire, she began playing with major orchestras such as the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre national de France, under the direction of prestigious conductors such as Riccardo Mutti, Kurt Masur, Herbert Blomstedt and Klaus Mäkëla. She also gives numerous solo concerts and recitals in France and Japan. 

Very open to other forms of expression, such as theater, she has collaborated with the Candela company for several years and has performed at the Théâtre de Nesle in Paris. 
Perfume and the world of scents, her greatest passion along with music, led her to train with Cinquième Sens. Armed with the expertise and know-how of the great perfumers, she now expresses her olfactory sensibility through perfumed creations and concerts. 

Yoko Lévy-Kobayashi has been the 1st violin 2nd soloist of the Orchestre National d’Ile de France since 2004 and a perfumer-creator. She is also the founder of her own perfume brand, Violoniste-parfums. 

Additional Performers, from the Opera Parallele ensemble:

Noah Strick, Violin
Violinist Noah Strick has appeared in performances throughout the United States, Canada,
Europe, China, and South America, and can be seen regularly in a variety of performing arts
organizations throughout the Bay Area. As a baroque violinist, Mr. Strick is a member of
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, plays regularly with Cantata Collective, and has served as
concertmaster for California Bach Society and Chora Nova. Equally comfortable on modern
violin, he is a member of California Symphony, and is a substitute with several other Bay Area
orchestras. He formerly served as both Assistant and Associate Concertmaster for Berkeley
Symphony.
Mr. Strick holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music. His principal teachers include Kyung Sun Lee, Marilyn McDonald, and Bettina
Mussumeli.

Ellen Ruth Rose, Viola
Violist Ellen Ruth Rose enjoys a varied career as performer and teacher. She is a member of Empyrean Ensemble, the new music group in residence at UC Davis, Eco Ensemble, the new music ensemble in residence at UC Berkeley, and Earplay, the San Francisco contemporary ensemble. She has performed as soloist with the West German Radio Chorus, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the symphony orchestras of UC Davis and Berkeley, at the Ojai Music Festival and at Monday Evening Concerts in Los Angeles. Prior to moving to California, she worked extensively throughout Europe with Frankfurt’s Ensemble Modern and the Cologne experimental ensembles Musik Fabrik and Thürmchen Ensemble, appearing at the Cologne Triennial, Berlin Biennial, Salzburg Zeitfluß, and Venice Biennale festivals. Traditional chamber music credits include the Marlboro Music Festival, the International Musician’s Seminar in Cornwall, England, and the Banff Centre. She is on the instrumental faculty of UC Davis and UC Berkeley.

Emileigh Vandiver, Cello
Cellist Emileigh Brooke Vandiver brings people together through the humanity of music, cello in tow. Reviewed by the New York Times as an “excellent performer,” Ms. Vandiver is a versatile musician who has performed and toured internationally with various orchestras. Her orchestral experience includes holding section positions with the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic and an Associate Principal position with the Fort Worth Symphony. She’s currently principal of Marin Symphony and also holds positions with the Oakland Symphony, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and Stockton Symphony. She loves playing with her dog, Olive, and exploring her new state, California!