London-born violinist Mathilde Milwidsky, described by the great Maxim Vengerov as ‘exceptionally gifted’ will perform Ernest Chausson’s ‘Poeme’ and Neil Courtney’s ‘Concertante’ with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra on Saturday 15th March 2025.
Mathilde has proved herself equally at home with traditional repertoire and the music of contemporary composers. In addition to a burgeoning solo career, Mathilde has also been appointed as a professor of violin at the Royal College of Music.
‘Concertante’ and ‘Poeme’
Local composer and Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra regular Neil Courtney wrote his ‘Concertante’ in the 1970s and has revised it for its Island premiere.
Although a virtuosic violin solo it is also a highly engaging ensemble piece that the orchestra has enjoyed rehearsing very much. The composer packs an intense energy into an economical ten minutes and it deserves repeated performances.
Ernest Chausson’s ‘Poeme’ is a Romantic tour-de-force, demanding both technical brilliance and emotional integrity. Mathilde Milwidsky is certain to bring both to the stage.
‘A London Overture’
Also on the programme is John Ireland’s superb ‘A London Overture’ which evokes the life of the capital in the 1930s. Ireland was a fabulous orchestrator and, unusually, ‘A London Overture’ is an arrangement of ‘Comedy Overture’, written for brass band in 1934. Both versions are distinctive and stylish in their own right.
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.4
The programme concludes with Symphony no.4 by Tchaikovsky. There is no surprise it is such a favourite with audiences.
The melodies are fantastic and there are plenty of opportunities to hear symphonic playing at full tilt. This is always a great experience for orchestra and audience alike!
Where and when
The concert takes place at Medina Theatre on Saturday 15th March 2025.
The evening begins at 7.15pm and tickets are priced at £16.50 for adults and £7.50 for Under 18s. Ticket price includes £1.50 booking fee.
Book now via the Medina Theatre website.
Support
The orchestra is delighted to be supporting The Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Trust, Middleton Bursary Scheme at all of its concerts this season.
The scheme provides invaluable financial support to young musicians facing challenging circumstances. Sponsorship from Wightlink is invaluable in helping the orchestra maintain the high quality of their concerts from year to year.
News shared by Gareth on behalf of Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra. Ed
