Beethoven and ballet gems to open Dewsbury Lunchtime Concerts

The Orchestra of Opera North’s Associate Leader Andrew Long will be joined by Ian Buckle on piano to open a new season of Lunchtime Concerts in Dewsbury Town Hall on Wednesday 21 September, with a famously difficult Beethoven Violin Sonata along with some lesser-known gems.

“Beethoven’s magnificent ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata was first performed by the virtuoso violinist George Bridgetower, with Beethoven at the piano”, explains Andrew. “It was so successful that the Viennese audience demanded that the beautiful second movement was encored before the players could move on to the last movement!”

“The opening solo violin chords strike fear into every violinist, and it has even been known for legendary players to run onto the platform and begin to play before the audience has stopped clapping, so they can’t be heard.

“One of my violinistic loves is unearthing hidden or forgotten gems of the repertoire, so I’ll also be playing two of my very favourite pieces written by Franz von Vecsey, himself a child prodigy, who was the recipient of Sibelius’s dedication of his violin concerto at the tender age of twelve.

“Our programme also includes two large concertmaster solos from the world of classical Russian ballet. The Grand Adagio from Glazunov’s ballet score Raymonda was a favourite piece of one of my all-time violin heroes, Oscar Shumsky; and the ‘Romance’ from Glière’s ballet The Red Poppy is another Russian favourite.”

Lunch is served in the Town Hall from 11.30am on concert days, making these intimate performances all the more convivial and welcoming. Andrew and Ian will take the stage at 12.30pm. Tickets for Dewsbury Lunchtime Concerts are still priced at just £5 plus booking fee, and can be booked in person at Kirklees Town Hall box offices, via telephone on 01484 225755 or online at tickets.kirklees.gov.uk

For more information visit https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/kcs2223-long-buckle/