.
Given the acoustics of the Royal Festival Hall, I was anticipating my enjoyment of ‘Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovich’, but I could never have guessed, just how phenomenal it was going to be.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, ably conducted by Edward Gardener, were more than up to the challenge of accompanying such a talent, and indeed performed Britten’s Sinfonia de Requiem at the beginning of the concert and Sibelius’ Symphony No 5, after the interval, both to great acclaim.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, in a flowing white dress with an embroidered pale blue bodice,wild haired and bare footed is undoubtedly a formidable talent, impossible to take your eyes off.
As the initial applause died down, Kopatchinskaja played Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No 1, to a rapt audience. So talented, so young, the music, haunting, plaintive carried us away, her body contorting, to coax some of the more elusive sounds from her violin.
In the course of the four movements, Patricia demonstrated the sheer virtuosity of the violin, her body writhing, as if possessed by the music, and from time to time her bare foot stamping the beat.
Hair flying about, deep in concentration, as she was caught up in the music. At times frenzied and exciting, she played at an impossible breakneck pace like some mischievous fairy casting her spell over the packed audience.Then gentle, soothing, cooling the blood, after what had gone before.
The solo piece can be described in no way other than ‘mesmerising,’ and it was fascinating to see how the orchestra held its collective breath at the spectacle before them, in much the same way as we the audience. At the conclusion of the piece there was much cheering and applause, and quite rightly we rose to our feet. This was one of those rare moments where one is aware that we are in the presence of genius.
I urge you to get a ticket for the rest of this programme, and if you have the opportunity to see Patricia Kopatchinskaja play, do whatever it takes to get a ticket.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovich is about to go on tour and will have its Carnegie Hall debut later this month.
A Hero’s Life – Friday 25 Oct 2024. https://lpo.org.uk/event/a-heros-life/
Karina Canellakis conducts Schumann & Bruckner – 30 Oct 2024. https://lpo.org.uk/event/karina-canellakis-conducts-schumann-and-bruckner/
Tchaikovsky’s Sixth – 2 Nov 2024. https://lpo.org.uk/event/tchaikovskys-sixth/
Víkingur Ólafsson plays Brahms – 6 Nov 2024.https://lpo.org.uk/event/vikingur-olafsson-plays-brahms/
A Dark Century – 27 Nov 2024. https://lpo.org.uk/event/a-dark-century/
Swan Lake – 29 Nov 2024, 7.30pm https://lpo.org.uk/event/swan-lake/