As an artist who seeks to take music beyond the stage and make it truly accessible to all, and a firm belief in the value of community work that has led her to found a number of personal outreach initiatives, including the enterprising Midori & Friends, she is the perfect partner for the London Symphony Orchestra and LSO Discovery.
The LSO’s Artist Portrait series sees Midori in many different lights this spring, including eight different events with the London Symphony Orchestra and LSO Discovery. Midori will be performing two Barbican concerts with the LSO – the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto on 3 April and the Britten Violin Concerto on 6 April 2008; and two chamber recitals at LSO St Luke’s. The chamber recitals with pianist Charles Abramovic will take place on 6 March and 8 May 2008, exploring repertoire by CPE Bach, Schnittke, Beethoven, Shostakovich, MacMillan, Penderecki, John Adams and a world premiere by Christian Mason.
6 March 2008, 7.30pm, Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s RECITAL
Sonatas and Preludes for violin and piano are the focus of the recital by Midori and pianist Charles Abramovic. With CPE Bach’s Sonata in C minor, Schnittke’s Sonata No 1, Shostakovich’s Preludes and Beethoven’s Sonata for violin and piano No 9 in A, Op 47 (‘Kreutzer’).
7 March 2008, 12.30pm, Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s LSO DISCOVERY FRIDAY LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
Midori and pianist Charles Abramovic perform a short recital as part of the LSO Discovery Friday Lunchtime Concert Unravelling the 20th Century series. The concert is presented by LSO animateur, Rachel Leach. Entry is free and tickets are not required but arrive early to avoid disappointment!
8 March 2008, 3-5pm, Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s MASTERCLASS
Midori will also be holding a masterclass for aspiring violinists where she will be exploring music by Adams, MacMillan, Lindberg and Penderecki and coaching student violinists from the LSO String Experience Scheme and the LSO Strings Academy.
3 April 2008, 7.30pm, Barbican Hall CONCERT AT THE BARBICAN
Midori performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto conducted by the LSO’s Principal Guest Conductor, Daniel Harding. This is performed alongside Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite, a vivid ballet full of Russian influences that Stravinsky composed when he was in his twenties.
4 April 2008, 2.30-4pm, Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s ARTIST CONVERSATION
Part of the series includes a Question & Answer session that will be streamed live over the internet. Questions will explore contemporary violin music and music education, and there will be the opportunity for web-based listeners to submit questions to be answered by Midori. Entry is free and tickets are required.
5 April 2008, 2-3pm, Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s SCORE! LONDON
Midori will lead a “SCORE day” presented by the LSO and spnm (Society for the Promotion of New Music). This composers' workshop will explore the collaborative relationship between performer and composer and will include the first rehearsal of a specially written piece for Midori called Efflorescence by Christian Mason, a graduate of the LSO Discovery Panufnik Young Composers Scheme, the LSO and UBS Sound Adventures Scheme and the spnm shortlist. Entry is free but booking is essential.
6 April 2008, 7.30pm, Barbican Hall CONCERT AT THE BARBICAN
Britten’s Violin Concerto was composed in the shadow of war in 1939 and here it is performed by Midori and the LSO, along with Brahms’ Symphony No 2. Daniel Harding conducts.
8 May 2008, 7.30pm, Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s RECITAL
Midori and pianist Charles Abramovic perform a recital of contemporary music by Huw Watkins, Penderecki, Magnus Lindberg, James MacMillan, John Adams and a world premiere by Christian Mason, who was a participant on the London Symphony Orchestra Discovery Panufnik Young Composers Scheme in 2006 and was subsequently commissioned through the LSO & UBS Sound Adventures Scheme. This recital forms part of Midori’s third contemporary music recital tour in May, which leads her to several European cities. -- www.lso.co.uk
