A Fresh Take on Beethoven
Youth and genius abound in the London Mozart Players’ kickstart to 2023, with 16-year-old violinist Leia Zhu giving a fresh take on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto under the baton of Leslie Suganandarajah.
Not all famous works were a great success the first time round. Take Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, for instance, whose first performance wasn’t quite what we’d call a crowd-pleaser.
While the composer’s assessment may have been a little dramatic (asking to sit at a distance from performances so as not to hear his ‘music murdered’), Beethoven finishing writing the piece only two days before the performance meant the violin soloist had to practically sight-read on stage – critics labelled the experience as ‘exhausting’.
But second chances are given for a reason and the concerto was revived four decades later by violinist aficionado Joseph Joachim, who dazzled the audience and convinced the public of the piece’s worth.
Ever since, the piece has become a firm favourite with violinists and is showcased tonight by LMP’s Young Artist-in-Residence, Leia Zhu.
Other composers had more luck in the popularity department. An ambitious 22-year-old Mozart was encouraged to ‘win fame and make money in Paris’ by his father and in 1778 he did just that. Hailed by the people of Paris as a prodigy, Mozart was wildly popular in the French capital and his Symphony No.31 is the product of this trip, proving sensational back then and a continued favourite today.
LMP are also playing Jessie Montgomery’s Strum for Strings and four African Dances by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
Performers
- London Mozart Players
- Leslie Suganandarajah conductor
- Leia Zhu violin
Repertoire
- Jessie Montgomery: Strum for strings
- Coleridge-Taylor: 4 African Dances, Op.58 arr. George Morton for violin & chamber orchestra
- Mozart: Symphony No.31 (Paris)
- Interval
- Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Need to know
For ages 7+
Dates & times
Price
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