[photo credit: Sierra Madre Playhouse]
Chalifour’s performances are characterized by nuance, lyrical charm, technical brilliance, masterful musical storytelling, and emotional resonance. The program includes Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake”; Bizet’s opera “Carmen”; Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan” from “The Carnival of the Animals”; Ennio Morricone’s “Love Theme” from “Cinema Paradiso”; Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances”; and Grieg’s “Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano in C minor.” Pianist Steven Vanhauwaert accompanies throughout.
A native of Québec and honors graduate of the Montréal Conservatory, Chalifour studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He became principal concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1995. Throughout three decades of leadership, he has brought his rich tone and emotional clarity to more than 60 concertos and countless chamber music settings.
Sierra Madre Playhouse, hailed as a “jewel” by Pasadena Weekly and “a landmark theater” by ABC7 Los Angeles, earns its accolades through distinctive productions. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” The intimate 99-seat venue has earned multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and Los Angeles Times Critics’ Choice honors. In 2023, U.S. Representative Judy Chu named it a leading nonprofit of the year in the San Gabriel Valley.
The Romantic Violin: Martin Chalifour will run Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. For more information, call (626) 355-4318 or visit https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/event/romanticviolin2026.
