Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
23 May - 10:21 pm NZ
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Music Alive
Starts at 8:00 pm on Thursday, 26 April 2012
Lara St John (violin), Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roy Goodman
Rautavaara, Mendelssohn, Beethoven
This concert from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Roy Goodman includes Isle of Bliss by Rautavaara, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony (Pastoral) and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto performed by visiting Canadian violinist, Lara St John. St John was in New Zealand as a member of the jury of last year’s Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Because Mendelssohn was able to work at such speed it wouldn’t have taxed him to write a violin concerto in six days. The fact that he spent over six years on this work is some indication of how much it meant to him. The first mention of the concerto comes in 1838 but it wasn’t until 1844 that he was able to concentrate on the work. It was finally completed in September that year and first performed by Ferdinand David in Leipzig six months later.
It is not only the finest violin concerto of its period, it is really the only violin concerto of note after that of Beethoven (1806) and before those of Bruch (1868), Tchaikovsky and Brahms (both 1878). Mendelsson’s Violin Concerto is absolutely central to the violinist’s repertoire, a work all young players look forward to learning, and which mature violinists return to again and again.
Soloist Lara St John has been described as "something of a phenomenon" by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by the New York Times.
The Los Angeles Times has written, “St John brings to the stage personal charisma, an unflagging musical imagination and genuine passion.” Recitals in major concert halls have included New York, Boston, San Francisco, Ravinia, Washington DC, Prague, Berlin, Toronto, Montreal, and in the Forbidden City.
This concert was recorded live in the Auckland Town Hall by Radio New Zealand
