I don’t often post here about the Kensington Philharmonic concerts which I play in two or three times a year. I love this orchestra, and have been a member of it for over twenty years. We basically concentrate on the sort of regular repertoire you’d expect from an excellent amateur orchestra. But as we are getting better and better, our inimitable conductor, Mark Fitz-Gerald, is stretching us more and more. And what a concert we have lined up for this Sunday evening.
Autumn Concert, Sunday 24th November 2013, 7.30pm
R.Strauss: Don Juan op.20
A.Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
P.Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 2. op.17 ‘Little Russian’
All three of these are ghoulishly hard, but worth the hard work. But it’s the Khachaturian which has really blown me away. Although I’ve played the violin all my life, it’s a concerto I didn’t know before, which is incredible to me since it’s SO amazing and SO Russian (and I love the Russian composers, being a long-ago Russian myself). It will be performed by the violinist, Alexandra Wood. We have always been able to attract world class soloists to perform with us, and Alexandra is no exception. The Times has called her highly charged yet imaginatively refined and the Sunday Telegraph has called her an exceptionally accomplished violinist.
I’m guessing that I’m not the only one unfamiliar with this piece, so I’m presenting you with a video of the last movement. It’s a whirlwind, and it’s performed here by my all-time favourite violinist, the late, great David Oistrakh (another Russian).
And if you like it and feel like listening to some fantastic music on Sunday evening, and are accessible to London, do come along to Chelsea Old Town Hall on the King’s Road SW3. Tickets are available at the door for £12 (£2 under 18’s). And say hi! You’ll see me fiddling furiously among the firsts.
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