Wistful thinking and a Concert by the National Youth Strings Academy.

Not long after Sheila and i got married, a salesman came to our door, and when I answered he asked, "Is your mother in son?"

Last night I went to a concert which was pay at the door, and was assumed to be a Senior concession.

So what happened between these two incidents of mistaken age. Quite a lot!

Anyway. Said concert was a performance by the National Youth Strings Academy with a programme of Coreli's Concerto Grosso, Bartok's Roumanian Dances, and Shostakovich's Sinfonia for Strings and Orchestra. The lead violinist was superb. During the Shostakovich piece she held the music together during the long sustained argument between her violin and the rest of the ensemble. The tension built up to the point where you are sure she will falter, the note will go flat, or her arm will get tired and the bow wobble - no chance - this was a brilliant performance by a group of young people who simply dived into the scores and didn't drown. And what they needed in mature experience and long honed skill, they made up in energy, gift and a compelling sense of thereness, right at the heart of the music. Loved it. 

Comments

[Graeme Clark]

Thanks for this, lol.