Ray Chen performs at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Ray Chen might be the finest current violinist you don't yet know — but you soon will. See this stellar artist perform bonbons by Sarasate and Saint-Saëns in an intimate performance recorded live at the New York nightclub (Le) Poisson Rouge.

Program:

• Pablo de Sarasate: Introduction and Tarentella

• Camille Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

• with Julio Elizalde, piano

Violinist Ray Chen's blazing talent is still something of a secret in the U.S. — but we bet that won't be true for much longer.

The Taiwan-born, Australian-raised artist can already tick off a list of pretty amazing accomplishments. He has won the two of the most prestigious and well-known violin competitions: the International Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2009 and the Yehudi Menuhin Competition in 2008. After the Menuhin, one of the jurors, the profoundly gifted Russian violinist Maxim Vengerov, became his professional mentor and champion. Chen's debut album Virtuoso won the much-coveted Echo Klassik prize in Germany. He spends his time touring as a guest artist with the world's top orchestras.

And Chen was tapped to be the soloist at this year's Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm on Dec. 8, an honor that in previous years has gone to such superstars as Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Lang Lang, Martha Argerich and Joshua Bell. (Yes, that is the level of talent — and industry recognition — he has already reached.) And did we mention that Chen is just 22?

So it's a special pleasure to bring you a sweet little taste of Ray Chen's talent, taped live in an intimate recital he gave at New York's (Le) Poisson Rouge in February that we've been waiting for just the right time to share. Consider it an early holiday bonbon: With the sparks that fly off his fiddle in these encores by Sarasate and Saint-Saens, this performance just might be the ultimate Christmas cracker.

Credits:

Producers: Mito Habe-Evans, Anastasia Tsioulcas; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Director: Garth Macaleavey/LPR; Production Assistant: Doriane Raiman; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann, Keith Jenkins

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

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