Festival Set for Menuhin Competition London 2016

The MENUHIN COMPETITION LONDON 2016 has announced that JOHN RUTTER is to compose his first work for violin and voice, as one of the three new compositions to be premiered during the eleven day Festival (Thursday 7 April 2016 - Sunday 17 April 2016).

All three composers of these new commissions had close connections with YEHUDI MENUHIN, so it is particularly poignant that their works will premiere during these Centenary celebrations.

JOHN RUTTER will compose a new work for violin, with choir and string orchestra, to be premiered at the intimate Temple Church, (Thursday 14 April). The solo violin part will be played by the 2010 Junior winner of the Competition KERSON LEONG, now 18.

JOHN RUTTER says: "This is a rather lovely combination for me to compose for, as I have always had a great fondness for string orchestra and solo violin, and of course I have been writing for choirs all my life. I am a great supporter of young talent so am delighted to combine violin, youth and voice for the Menuhin Competition. I have plenty to explore and look forward to because historically there are hardly any pieces with this mix - which is odd really as the violin is the closest instrument to the human voice. It will also be interesting for me to think of a text that will be appropriate. As a teenager, I used to watch Menuhin rehearse his orchestra in my school hall at Highgate. I was merely a fly on the wall but it was so inspiring to see how a great violinist worked with his orchestra - though I never had the nerve to ask for his autograph."

ROXANNA PANUFNIK, god-daughter to Yehudi's daughter (Zamira Menuhin-Benthall), will compose a new work for solo violin to be performed by the Senior Competitors during the Competition. The work will premiere at the Opening Concert (Thursday 7 April) at the Royal Festival Hall performed by former prize winner JIAFENG CHEN. ROXANNA PANUFNIK says: "I am especially thrilled to be composing something in memory of Yehudi Menuhin, whom I met many times as a child - I will be drawing inspiration from his love of Eastern European gypsy music..."

The third new composition will be composed by Spanish composer OSCAR COLOMBINA I BOSCH, a young teacher at both the Menuhin School and Royal Academy of Music, whose new work will be played by the Junior Finalists (Thursday 14 April). OSCAR has chosen the opening four notes from Elgar's Violin Concerto as his starting material. As a teenager MENUHIN recorded the Concerto with Elgar conducting, a recording that has since become legendary. OSCAR says: "The opening four-note motif lends itself to be treated freely and not bound to any particular style, allowing me to write a piece very much of my own."

Whilst the 44 exceptional young violinists participate in the world's leading violin competition there are many exciting events and major concerts taking place during the eleven days of the Festival:-

The Duke's Hall at the Royal Academy of Music (the host conservatoire) houses the free daily heats from Friday 8 April; through to the semi-finals and Junior Finals on Friday 15 April. The five young finalists will play one of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, playing solo whilst also directing the orchestra to show their own unique musicality and brilliance; as well as playing OSCAR's new work. This is one of the most memorable events in the calendar to see such young talent scale such heights.

Another highlight at The Duke's Hall is a full day of Masterclasses with the 2016 jurors on Thursday 14 April, when the internationally acclaimed soloists guide the next generation of outstanding violinists - and is an opportunity for the competitors to judge how well their world class judges can play!

There is a full weekend for all the family, celebrating all things violin at The Menuhin Outreach Festival in the Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre during the daytime on both Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April; and not forgetting the family Concert with the young competitors joining Orpheus Sinfonia on the afternoon of Saturday 16, in the London premiere of the sure-fire favourite, the entertaining murder mystery: The Composer Is Dead - a real who-dunn-it about the orchestra in the Festival Hall!

The Opening Concert (Thursday 7 April) stars four former winners of the MENUHIN COMPETITION, who are now all internationally acclaimed violinists in their own right: TASMIN LITTLE, RAY CHEN, JIAFENG CHEN and teenager RENNOSUKE FUKUDA with the Philharmonia Orchestra, at the Royal Festival Hall.

And on through to the heady Senior Finals on Saturday 16 April and the Closing Gala concert of the MENUHIN COMPETITION LONDON 2016 on Sunday 17 April; when The Philharmonia Orchestra presents the winners of both the Juniors and Seniors alongside dazzling virtuoso and 1995 winner JULIA FISCHER playing Bartók's haunting First Violin Concerto.

Grandson and trustee, AARON MENUHIN says: "I am extremely proud to be involved in the Menuhin competition as I feel that it encompasses many things my grandfather believed in. He was devoted to encouraging young musicians to grow and thrive with their instruments. As a child prodigy he was best placed to understand the tremendous gift of innate musicianship together with its burden. For me personally witnessing these young violinists play is always a revelation. There is something so innocent and childish in their deportment and yet such quality, depth and maturity to their playing. When witnessing them play one cannot help but repeat what Einstein said upon hearing my grandfather play: " And now I know there is a God in heaven".

I look forward to bringing my five year old son to some of the concerts so that he can also find inspiration in the playing and in the music. I believe all children should be exposed to great music particularly in a world that feeds on transience and superficiality."

The MENUHIN COMPETITION LONDON 2016 plays throughout the UKs Easter holidays in April 2016, making it the perfect opportunity for a new and youthful audience to join in and experience this exciting spectacle of classical music.

To post a comment, you must register and login.