Accordionist, Radu Ratoi Live from Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center

RADU RATOI, accordion Special Guest: Lun Li, violin Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center The Rhoda Walker Teagle Concert RAMEAU: Overture from Pygmalion, RTC52 J. S. BACH : Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 LISZT: Transcendental Etudes, S. 139, No. 10, “Appassionata” SCHUBERT: Presto from String Quartet in D minor, D. 810 PER NØRGÅRD: Anatomic Safari SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabre, Op. 40 STRAVINSKY: Suite Italienne World premiere by YCA Composer-in-Residence Hannah Ishizaki Moldovan accordionist Radu Ratoi showcases remarkable passion and skill in a program that spans Baroque elegance, Romantic intensity, and contemporary innovation. With the ability to evoke the depth of an organ, the richness of an orchestra, and the agility of a solo instrument, the accordion takes on new dimensions in his hands. Through works by Bach, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, and Schubert, Ratoi highlights the instrument’s expressive and technical range. The program also features a collaboration with violinist Lun Li on Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne, and a world premiere by YCA Composer-in-Residence Hannah Ishizaki. “This program is a statement of my belief in the accordion’s boundless potential and my passion for elevating its voice on the concert stage. It invites audiences to rediscover the instrument as a vessel for artistry, tradition, and innovation.” - Radu Ratoi Tickets from $20 | yca.org/tickets | (212) 307-6655