British composer, Peter
Seabourne’s www.peterseabourne.com
Violin Concerto was recently premiered
in its complete form in Germany by Fenella Humphreys www.fenellahumphreys.com with
the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss www.deutsche-kammerakademie.de
conducted
by Lavard Skou Larsen www.lavardskoularsen.com
The first two movements of the concerto were composed in
2003 and recorded by Sheva www.shevacollection.it
with violinist Irina Borissova and the Mainzer Virtuosi conducted by Dmitri
Khakalin. The composer was commissioned to write a third movement to make this
a full scale concerto.
It is with the kind permission of the composer and artists that
I am able to provide the following links to the unedited live performance in
order for a wider public to hear this wonderful concerto.
Peter Seabourne’s Violin
Concerto opens with broad, dramatic string chords from the orchestra that
introduce the first movement Appassionato.
They are quickly joined by an equally dramatic violin line that brings some
formidable playing from soloist, Fenella Humphreys. Eventually the music gives
way to a calmer, lyrical episode that nevertheless retains a degree of tension.
The soloist and orchestra create a fine dialogue as the movement develops through
passages of terrific invention, slowly increasing in animation. Later there is
a slower passage for the soloist over a deep held, hushed orchestral background
as the violin brings a kind of accompanied cadenza with this soloist finding
some exquisite moments as the orchestra gently expands whilst the soloist
rhapsodises. The tempi picks up to bring back the opening dynamism, though now
with a beautifully rich swirl of orchestral textures before the strings chords
of the opening bring a sudden end.
In the Dolce semplice
the soloist brings a haunting theme over a gentle orchestral accompaniment.
This is a quite lovely moment. Again there is a fine dialogue between soloist
and orchestra, working through some lovely little details as the music develops.
There is some beautifully shaped phrasing from soloist and orchestra allowing this
finely developed movement to reveal its many beauties. The music slowly finds a
greater passion with the orchestral strings adding greater texture before
finding a hush in the wonderful coda.
In the concluding Volante
furioso, the orchestra brings a swirling, descending string passage to
which the soloist adds an energetic theme. Both soloist and orchestra push
ahead through some dramatic bars before the soloist introduces a calmer moment
before developing through some terrific ideas, increasing in drama again. The
music is constantly shifting between passion and a gentler nature, in many ways
bringing together the character of the first two movements. The soloist brings some
particularly fine textures, developing through some more expansive moments. The
orchestra provides some beautifully shaped phrases to which the soloist
responds with an increasing sense of passion and drama before finding the coda.
This is a spectacularly fine work from a composer who seems
to grow in stature with every work that he produces. Both soloist and orchestra
give a very fine performance.
We urgently need more recordings as well as UK performances
of this fine composer’s work.
See also:
No comments:
Post a Comment