Salomon past concerts - Tuesday 15 October 2002

St. John's Smith Square

Philip Ellis Conductor

Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor

So-Ock Kim Violin*

Composed in 1903/04, then revised for its 1905 Berlin première conducted by Richard Strauss, the Violin Concerto was not a success until played by Jascha Heifitz in the 1930's. It is now immensely popular with violinists and audiences alike. 

Inkpot compares the original (withdrawn until a recent world première recording allowed by the Sibelius estate) with the established version. 

*We have unfortunately had a change in soloist for the Sibelius concerto as Krzysztof Smietana is indisposed, but have been extremely fortunate to have secured at short notice the remarkable young Korean-born violinist So-Ock Kim (click for biography, photo and reviews).

Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 'Leningrad'

Debate continues as to whether the famous repeated phrase in the opening movement (Shostakovich suggested to Khatchaturian it may remind him of Ravel's Bolero) depicts Stalinist terror as well as the German assault on Leningrad. The theme, which may have come from 'I'm off to Maxim's house' from Lehar's The Merry Widow, was used by Bartok in his Concerto for Orchestra representing 'rough, booted men' interrupting a serenade - hear this in our concert on 11 February 2003.

The first performance was during the siege in 1942, and after Shostakovich managed to leave the city clutching the score of his cherished 7th symphony it became internationally celebrated.

©Salomon Orchestra

2006

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