Sarah Chang performs Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 with the Philharmonia Orchestra

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Sarah Chang performs with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Joji Hattori

May 5, 6 & 7 at Basingstoke, Bedford & London

Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, is one of the most popular violin concertos in the repertoire. It continues to be performed and recorded by many violinists and is arguably Bruch's most famous composition. Joining this piece is Grieg's Peer Gynt, Suite No 1 and Brahms Symphony No 1. Brahms venerated Beethoven: in the composer's home, a marble bust of Beethoven looked down on the spot where he composed, and some passages in his works are reminiscent of Beethoven's style. The main theme of the finale of Brahms's First Symphony is reminiscent of the main theme of the finale of Beethoven's Ninth, and when this resemblance was pointed out to Brahms he replied that any ass – jeder Esel – could see that.

The Bruch Violin Concerto is just one of the many violin concertos Ms Chang has performed. In 2005 she recorded the First Violin Concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Sarah Chang’s EMI discography includes the violin concertos of Mendelssohn, Bruch, Tchaikovsky, Dvoøák, Paganini No.1, Goldmark, Sibelius, Richard Strauss and Vieuxtemps No.5, as well as Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, Saint-Saëns’s Havanaise and Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and chamber music by Dvoøák, Tchaikovsky, Franck, Ravel and Saint-Saëns.

In 2006, Sarah performed the Prokofiev No.1, Brahms, Sibelius and Bruch No.1 Violin Concertos with the San Francisco and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, the London and Danish National Symphony Orchestras, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Bavarian State Opera Orchestra, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under conductors Marek Janowski, Yuri Temirkanov, Kurt Masur and Mikko Frank.

“Her gifts are at a level so removed from the rest of us that all we can do is feel the appropriate awe and then wonder on the mysteries of nature. The ancients would certainly have had Ms. Chang emerging fully formed from some Botticellian scallop shell.”
–The New York Times

Sarah Chang is recognised the world over as one of classical music’s most captivating and gifted performers. Last October Sarah performed the world premiere of the Violin Concerto by composer Christopher Theofanidis, commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra specifically for Sarah.

Joji Hattori is one of the leading Japanese musicians of his generation and has enjoyed a very varied career as a musician, firstly as a concert violinist, an activity which has developed into directing chamber orchestras, conducting symphony orchestras and finally operas. He has been Associate Conductor of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra since 2004 and during the 2007/08 season served as Principal Resident Conductor of the Opera House in Erfurt, Germany.

The Philharmonia Orchestra was founded in 1945, primarily as a recording orchestra. It is made up of more than 80 musicians giving around 40 concerts in London and over 60 concerts a year at its Residencies and other venues around the UK, in addition to its touring work all over the world. Its community and education programme brings thousands of young people into contact with the Orchestra. It is the world’s most recorded orchestra with over 1000 releases to its credit.

To book tickets contact the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Tuesday 5 May 2009, 7.45pm, The Anvil, Basingstoke
Wednesday 6 May 2009, 7.30pm, Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford
Thursday 7 May 2009, 7.30pm, Royal Festival Hall, London
GRIEG Peer Gynt, Suite No 1
BRUCH Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor
BRAHMS Symphony No 1

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