(Vesko
Eshkenazy)
Coming up on Thursday (May 23) from the KZN
Philharmonic Orchestra is a programme not to be missed.
Local music lovers will recall the recent
unprecedented tour to South Africa by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of
Amsterdam. As an encore to that top-tier performance, this symphony season the
KZN Philharmonic welcomes the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s concertmaster, Vesko
Eshkenazy.
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Eshkenazy has
distinguished himself worldwide not only as a chamber and orchestra musician,
but as a soloist as well. His brother, award-winning conductor Martin
Panteleev, has likewise developed worldwide recognition, touring extensively
and taking the podium to lead some of the world’s finest orchestras. He is no
stranger to South Africa as he has been the principal guest conductor of the
Cape Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012.
With two distinguished guests hailing from
Sofia, Bulgaria, it is only fitting that their home city will be duly honoured
with the concert’s opening selection, the Bulgarian rhapsody, Vardar, by Pancho Vladigerov (also born
in Sofia.) This unique rhapsody features the unmistakable mixed metre rhythms
of Bulgarian folk music brought to life by the brilliant notes spinning from
the solo violin. The rhapsody was composed with the utmost attention to detail,
with the composer going so far as to indicate the desired timbre and quality of
notes from passage to passage. With Eshkenazy as soloist and Panteleev on the podium,
there is little doubt that the performance will convey every minute facet.
The second piece on the programme is Felix
Mendelssohn’s violin concerto, which is a masterpiece of musical architecture.
Mendelssohn composed this violin concerto for his close friend Ferdinand David
who, like Mendelssohn, developed from a child prodigy into a mature performer.
The result is a concerto perfectly suited to the violin’s temperament in the
hands of a true virtuoso.
The final piece on the programme will be
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral legend Scheherazade.
Drawing inspiration from the age-old Tales
of the Arabian Nights. Rimsky-Korsakov’s music captures the wonder and mystery
of the eastern mythos. Sweeping tutti
sections and brilliant solos help to distinguish Rimsky-Korsakov’s
orchestration of Scheherazade as one
of the finest examples in the repertoire.
The concert takes place on May 23 at 19h30
in the Durban City Hall. Booking is at Computicket. There will be a pre-concert
lecture by Michael Green in the Alhambra Room at the Playhouse at 18h15
(admission charge R10).
Posts
