VC Artist María Dueñas Performs to be Featured in ‘Opus 28’ Film

In the movie, María performs Johan Halvorsen’s “Opus 28” violin concerto with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain

Directed by Sofia Bohdanowicz, Opus 28 is based on the discovery of the long-lost violin concerto “Opus 28” manuscript from Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen. The concerto was originally performed in 1909 by its dedicatee, Canadian violinist Kathleen Parlow. 

Playing the character “Elisa” in the movie, VC Artist violinist María Dueñas will feature in a live restaging of Parlow’s 1909 performance of “Opus 28” with Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain and its music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. 

The live performance and North American premiere of the concerto was filmed at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal on November 18, 2023, in “a rare opportunity in which music history comes alive both onstage and, eventually, onscreen,” writes the Globe and Mail.

(PC: Calvin Thomas/Handout)

Once known as “the Lady with the Golden Bow,” Parlow’s accomplishments have been forgotten over time. A child prodigy in the 1900s, she studied with the Russian pedagogue Leopold Auer alongside his other students including Mischa Elman and Efrem Zimbalist.

Bohdanowicz herself has a connection to Parlow — her grandfather, Andrew Benac, was mentored by Parlow and had been part of the Parlow string quartet in the 1950s. 

“I’m so thrilled to finally share with you that I will be enrolling in the cast of the movie “Opus 28”, directed by the amazing [Sofia Bohdanowicz], which will come out in the spring!” María posted on Instagram. “I’m so touched to be part of this rare opportunity in which music history comes alive both onstage and onscreen and hopefully brings the unforgettable Kathleen Parlow back to life on November 18th at Maison Symphonique. See you there!”

“What a wonderful piece but more importantly, what incredible musicians sharing the stage with me,” she continued after the premiere. “Thank you thousands, dear [Nézet-Séguin] and [Orchestre Métropolitain] for your trust in this project and for your immense love for music. A week for my books!”