Rachel Barton Pine's special unaccompanied performances in bars and cafes are a great way to reach listeners unused to traditional concert halls. Her eclectic set list includes works by Bach, Kreisler, Ysaye, Ernst, and Paganini, as well as blues, Celtic and American fiddle tunes, Latin and gypsy pieces, and covers of rock and heavy metal songs. She introduces each selection with casual and informative commentary.

Ticket giveaways and/or special discounts can be very effective ways of encouraging these audience members to attend Ms. Pine's concerts.

For more information, please contact Ms. Pine's manager, John Zion at Melvin Kaplan, Inc., at 802-658-2592 or john@melkap.com.

Ysaye’s “Obsession”

“Opus 11” by blues legend Corky Siegel

Behind the Scene
by Lisa Millegan, Modesto Bee

Those who didn’t make it to violinist Rachel Barton Pine’s show at downtown Modesto’s Fat Cat Music & House and Lounge Thursday missed out. Pine entertained a full house with a three-hour program that gave new meaning to the word eclectic. She played Bach, Paganini, Scottish fiddle tunes, gypsy numbers, Appalachian folk songs and yes, heavy metal.

The highlight of the program was her Ozzy Osbourne medley performed with husband Greg Pine on viola, Modesto Symphony Orchestra marketing assistant Jackie Edge on cello and Modesto surgeon Dr. Calvin Lee on wailing violin. Who says you need amps and electric guitars to rock?

A down-to-earth performer without a hint of pretension, Pine charmed the audience with her stories about discussing classical music with a member of Megadeth and playing in a back-up orchestra for Led Zeppelin.

She got a rousing standing ovation after the show and was later surrounded by fans who snapped up her CDs. Pine performs the Barber Violin Concerto with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m.

The show was part of the orchestra’s great new Fat Classics series, designed to draw in people who would never normally go to a classical music show.