The Fairy’s Kiss: Leila Josefowicz & John Novacek

Leila Josefowicz is just the right kind of violinist: tough, uncompromising, always ready to do battle with the band and to soar, exhilaratingly, above it. BBC Radio 3

Josefowicz is magnificent throughout, whether negotiating ferocious technical challenges or playing with gentle lyrical wonder. The Strad

Stravinsky’s The Fairy’s Kiss allowed Josefowicz and Novacek the chance to pull out all the stops they’d held in reserve in a flurry of full-force virtuosity that rose to a pyrotechnical conclusion. San Francisco Classical Voice

Leila Josefowicz & John Novacek

Celebrated for their 'full-force virtuosity', American-Canadian violinist Leila Josefowicz and American pianist John Novacek have been making music together since they were eight. With an enduring bond which is, quite simply, magic, this feisty duo perform ravishing music for violin and piano. 

Debussy’s heart-melting Sonata, Szymanowski’s sensuous showpiece Mythes, and Stravinsky’s mischievous The Fairy’s Kiss conjure up evocative sound worlds for you to explore. British composer Charlotte Bray’s Mriya, inspired by the courage and integrity of the people of Ukraine, receives its Australian premiere.

This performance is currently available as part of a Musica Viva Australia 2026 Season Subscription.