Violinist Madeleine Mitchell is to premiere a new work by David Matthews this Autumn - his Romanza - in festivals in England and Scotland, culminating in the London premiere in March 2013 for the composer's 70th birthday.
The new work, which was commissioned by Madeleine Mitchell with funding from the Cohen Trust, lasts 12 minutes and has two versions: solo violin with strings op.119, and violin and piano op.119a, both published by Faber Music. Performances will take place at the Alwyn Festival, Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh, Suffolk on Saturday 6th October; in the Sound Festival at Aberdeen Art Gallery on Wednesday 1st November and at London’s Kings Place on Sunday 24th March 2013.
Madeleine Mitchell has been described by The Times as 'one of Britain's liveliest musical forces’ (and) ‘foremost violinists'. It is fitting that she will give the premiere during the second William Alwyn Festival, having been invited by Naxos to put together a disc of Alwyn chamber music and song, which was acclaimed as ‘outstanding’ by Classic FM Magazine’, (Naxos 8.570340). Like Alwyn, David Matthews' music has a romantic side which suits Madeleine’s playing.
For her London recital Madeleine has chosen works which have a connection with David Matthews' music; Beethoven, and Elgar - whose Violin Sonata with a Romance as the central movement, she and pianist Andrew Ball have twice performed for broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Respighi's romantic Violin Sonata written in 1917, the year before Elgar's, makes an interesting pairing.
“When Madeleine Mitchell commissioned this piece, she asked if I could write a Romanza, with its implications of lyricism and emotional warmth, and I readily agreed”, explained composer David Matthews. “I first met Madeleine in 1993 when I heard her play in a memorable performance of Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps at the Malvern Festival. Since then I have heard her many times; it's always good to be able to hear the person you are writing for playing your notes in your head while writing.”
Madeleine Mitchell says: "David’s Romanza is in 3/4 time, marked ‘appassionato’ with a quick waltz as the central section which is quite unusual. I think both versions will work equally well and I'm also planning to include it in the Canberra International Festival where I've been invited back as Artist-in-Residence in May 2013."
Premiere performances of Romanza:
Saturday 6th October 2012: 7.30pm
WORLD PREMIERE David Matthews: Romanza for solo violin & strings
Alwyn Festival, Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh, Suffolk IP19 9LR
Madeleine Mitchell solo violin with Prometheus Orchestra, conductor Edmond Fivet and music by Beethoven, Alwyn, Pehkonen
Tickets £15 (£7.50 under 16s) from Aldeburgh Music Box Office 01728 687110 http://www.aldeburgh.co.uk
Thursday 1st November 2012: 12.45-1.30pm
PREMIERE David Matthews: Romanza - violin/piano version
Sound - NE Scotland's new music festival: Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery AB10 1FQ in the presence of the composer.
Madeleine Mitchell, violin, Nigel Clayton, piano, with Debussy Sonate, Delius Légende, Cage Nocturne, John Hearne Endurspegla. This recital also celebrates the centenary of John Cage, the 150th anniversaries of both Debussy and Delius and the 75th birthday of Aberdeenshire composer John Hearne whose short piece's Icelandic title means ‘reflection’. Free Admission http://sound-scotland.co.uk
Sunday 24th March 2013 6.30pm
LONDON PREMIERE David Matthews: Romanza for violin with piano
King’s Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
Madeleine Mitchell, violin, with Andrew Ball, piano
Also including: Beethoven Sonata no.4, Respighi Violin Sonata, Elgar Violin Sonata
London Chamber Music Society