Concert Violinist, Pinchas Zukerman arrived for a flying tour through Australia for a handful of recital concerts this month: at the Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre Melbourne on Monday evening, Sydney’s City Recital Hall last night and the Elder Hall in Adelaide this coming Thursday evening. Renowned for his marvellous recordings (more than 100 albums recorded over the decades), Zukerman continues to travel the world, bringing his music to appreciative audiences.
In this tour, he is accompanied by the world famous accompanist Olga Sitkovetsky who trained at both the Moscow and St Petersburg Conservatories. She has been a long standing tutor with the Yehudi Menuhin School in England and its international music academy branch located in Switzerland.
Due to the performers’ ties with the Jewish community and the large amount of followers attending the concert, there were assurances needed down near the box office that the audience would be kept safe. It is a sorry state of the world, when such questions need to be asked. The assurance was well placed though, and the performance went off without a hitch.
The concert was introduced by producer Chris Howlett, Founder of ’Classical Music Australia’, who spoke of his goal to bring the very best performers to Australia. Earlier in the year, he presented The Kings Singers and coming up in the next few months will be Daniel Hope and Stephen Hough.
Howlett spoke passionately about his goal to make the highest of quality music presentations available to anyone who wishes to attend. He has created two incentives to support this goal. The first is that, instead of regular ticket prices for which you must prove your circumstances, you “Pay what you can”. If you need a concession ticket, there are no conditions you must meet. The second is that, if you can afford a little more, you can champion tickets, buying for yourself and one or two others. Howlett pointed out how easy it is to add an extra $50 which will pay for two students to attend the concert for free.
These are very “up to date” methods of working ticket sales in our financially polarised world. When similar offerings have been used in a variety of other industries, the results have been truly wonderful with much gratitude and improved wellbeing from those enjoying the pleasure of giving, as much as for those receiving the extra tickets. Bravo, Chris! May you inspire many others to take a similar stance.
Zukerman and Sitkovetsky began the concert with one of two movements from the FAE Violin Sonata. This is a unique and fun project was composed as a gift for violinist Joseph Joachim in the mid 1800s. His personal motto was “Frei aber einsam” FAE which means “free but lonely”. His friends Brahms, Schumann and Schumann’s pupil, Albert Dietrich, each composed a movement to contribute to the work using the notes F, A and E as part of the theme – sometimes as a melody, sometimes structured in other ways. It’s a really great work for music students to pull apart. The program began with the movement by Brahms and the second half opened with the movement by Schumann.
Zukerman’s interpretation was to take every work in the program a touch slower than Sydney audiences are likely used to. The resulting tempi gives him extra space to fill out every note, every melody and harmony. The playing by Zukerman and Sitkovetsky was crystal clear and accurate. The technique was world class.
Second, they performed a modern work “Berceuse Sfaradite” by Jewish composer Paul Ben-Haim who was working to shape the new Israeli musical identity in the 20th century. It was a lovely lullaby played with gentle, romantic expressiveness. The audience loved it. They concluded the first half with Beethoven’s “Spring” Violin Sonata Op. 24, very well known and one that everyone could fully appreciate. Sitkovetsky looked like she was really enjoying the music and the performance was wonderful.
Second half, as mentioned, began with Schumann’s movement from the FAE Violin Sonata. Next, Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour” is such a lovely little song to throw in to the program. The main work for the second half was “Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano” by César Franck. Rather than “starring” the violin, the parts were equally distributed and the musicians, once again, filled out all the space making the most of every note which was just delicious.
As an encore, Zukerman spoke for the first time, beginning (para-phrased) “Considering the situation in the world…” This was a memorable moment. Zukerman has been known in the past to speak his mind, including faux pas against other races. With these few words, the audience was instantly stunned to silence. It felt like a silent cringe with people waiting to see if uncomfortable words would follow but, with great relief, Zukerman said that what the world needs right now is LOVE. He played a violin version of a simple love song, chosen because it spoke to him personally. The audience were appreciative and gave more enthusiastic applause with several curtain calls.
The concert was very enjoyable and, no doubt, he will be welcomed back to Sydney at any time.
Program
Johannes BRAHMS – Violin Sonata ‘FAE’ Scherzo
Paul BEN-HAIM – Berceuse Sfaradite
Ludwig von BEETHOVEN – Violin Sonata in F Major Op. 24 “Spring”
Robert SCHUMANN – Violin Sonata ‘FAE’ Intermezzo
Edward ELGAR – Salut d’Amour
César Franck – Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano
Related Links
Albums by Pinchas Zukerman: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/artists/3118–pinchas-zukerman
What’s on at City Recital Hall? https://www.cityrecitalhall.com/whats-on/?genres=classical-music&range=upcoming
