With Volodmyr Runchak in Odessa 2001 Volodymyr Runchak-non-concerto 1 + 16 PSS-Violin Conductor-Volodymyr Runchak Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra Hall of Columns, K’yiv 2000 Volodymyr Runchak-Sounds re-sounds PSS-Violin, Piano, Voice. Odessa 1999 Sitting with Volodmyr Runchak, at the head of the ‘November…
Peter and Aaron have taken ‘Beethoven Explored’ worldwide. What began as a research project supported by the Royal Academy of Music and the London College of Music, has blossomed into an acclaimed series of recordings, a major concert series at…
Moses One of the most instantly recognisable, and most imitated of Pagnini’s show pieces, has become known as the Moses Fantasy. This work has inspired imitations by composers from Lindley to Martinu. Our understanding and knowledge of the piece was…
Coffee, Libraries, Losses and Gains. 27-12-09 I have found myself the perfect cup of coffee, in the old market quarter of Sarajevo, the Bašaršija. It’s early in the morning, and I am sitting outside at a pavement table, as…
Niccolo Paganini-Unpublished Prelude 1838 From the Collection of Andrew McGee Instruments-Vuillaume Rolled Steel Bow, Violin-Stradivari 1698 World Premiere recording. PSS 2005 Engineer/producer-Jonathan Haskell (astounding sounds) Paganini was constantly searchingfor new bow makers. A letter written on Lake Como in January…
Calumnies Violinists have often been assumed to be feckless wastrels. In 1802, Wilhelm Triest wrote a pen-portrait of this popular cliché, one which Paganini seemed far from anxious to contradict, but maybe to uphold, perhaps pre-empting the adage that ‘there’s…
The G minor Capriccio No 16 is where I feel most in the presence of Bach, or at the very least, that Paganini was very aware of Bach’s legacy for solo violin. This can be more obviously witnessed in the…
On Paganini – Capricci Op 1 No.9 E Major Caprice No 9 seems to take place in a forest, though of course this is not stated. This piece is the only place in Paganini’s cycle where the composer demands mimesis.…
Mozart and the Divine Bohemian Talk given prior to performance of Mozart-Quintets in D Major, E Flat Major, and Adagio K411. Wilton’s Music Hall September 2008 In 1782, Mozart wrote an Adagio K411 for five wind instruments. Very little is…
Mozart and the Quintet, thoughts on… Bishop Joseph Hurdalek (Mozart’s album) ‘When Orpheus’ magic lute rings out, Amphion to his lyre sings, The lions tame, the rivers quiet grow, The tigers listen, rocks a-walking go. When Mozart masterly…