London Symphony Orchestra Living Music Wednesday 10 June 2015 7.30pm Barbican Hall LSO INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN FESTIVAL André Previn Violin Concerto (‘Anne-Sophie’) INTERVAL Rachmaninov Symphony No 2 André Previn conductor Anne-Sophie Mutter violin Concert finishes approx 9.45pm The LSO International Violin Festival is London’s Symphony Orchestra generously supported by Jonathan Moulds CBE Concert supported by Baker & McKenzie LLP International Violin Festival Media Partner Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 2 Welcome 10 June 2015 Welcome Living Music Kathryn McDowell In Brief It is a pleasure to welcome the LSO’s Conductor BAFTA TV AWARD: WORLD WAR I Laureate André Previn back to the Barbican stage REMEMBERED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD tonight. Having first conducted the Orchestra in 1967 André Previn has been one of the LSO’s most An event that featured a collaboration between the frequent collaborators ever since. From 1968 to 1979 LSO and the Berlin Philharmonic has won a BAFTA he was the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, during Award. Members of the two orchestras, conducted which time he brought the Orchestra to the masses by Sir Simon Rattle, were brought together to through the BBC broadcast André Previn’s Music record the music played at the St Symphorien Night. Tonight he conducts a programme featuring Military Cemetery in Belgium in August 2014. The two works which hold a special significance for him. event, which also featured members of the London Symphony Chorus and LSO Choral Director Simon The first half of the concert sees the Orchestra Halsey, took place 100 years after the declaration joined by German virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter. of World War I, and was broadcast worldwide. Together they perform Previn’s First Violin Concerto, written for and dedicated to the soloist. A WARM WELCOME TO TONIGHT’S GROUPS In the second half, André Previn and the Orchestra explore Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 2 – a work with The LSO offers great benefits for groups of ten or which he has long been associated, and of which he more, including 20% discount on standard tickets, is considered one of the world’s finest interpreters. a dedicated group booking phone-line, priority booking and, for larger groups, free hot drinks and I would like to thank Baker & McKenzie for their the chance to meet LSO musicians at private interval support of this evening’s concert and continuing receptions. Tonight, we are delighted to welcome: commitment to the LSO, and BBC Radio 3, who broadcast the performance live. Thank you also to The Gerrards Cross Community Association Jonathan Moulds and our media partner The Strad British Emunah Entertains for their support of the International Violin Festival. Hertford U3A Jac Travel Please join us again on 14 June, when Bernard Adele Friedland & Friends Haitink conducts the LSO in Mahler’s First Symphony, and Alina Ibragimova performs Mozart’s Violin lso.co.uk/groups Concerto No 3 in G major. Kathryn McDowell CBE DL Managing Director 2916MAR_LSO_May15.indd 1 18/05/2015 16:45:53 4 Artist Biographies 10 June 2015 André Previn KBE ‘One of the most successful and versatile Conductor / Composer musicians of the past 50 years.’ Sinfini Music Conductor, composer and pianist André Previn has André Previn has enjoyed a number of successes received a number of awards and honours for his as a composer. His first opera, A Streetcar Named outstanding musical accomplishments, including Desire, was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque. His both the Austrian and German Cross of Merit, and Cello Concerto performed by Daniel Müller-Schott the Glenn Gould Prize. He is the recipient of Lifetime and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra received its Achievement Awards from the Kennedy Center, premiere in Leipzig in 2011. the London Symphony Orchestra, Gramophone, Classic FM, and this year was honoured with a His Double Concerto for Violin and Double Bass Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from The for Anne-Sophie Mutter and Roman Patkoló was Recording Academy. He has also received several premiered by the Boston Symphony in 2007, Grammy awards for recordings, including the CD of and his Harp Concerto was commissioned by his Violin Concerto ‘Anne-Sophie’ and Bernstein’s the Pittsburgh Symphony and premiered in 2008. Serenade featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter together His work Owls was premiered by the Boston with the Boston and London Symphony orchestras. Symphony Orchestra in 2008; his second opera, Brief Encounter, commissioned by the Houston A regular guest with the world’s major orchestras, Grand Opera, premiered in 2009 and was released Conductor Laureate both in concert and on recordings, André Previn by Deutsche Grammophon in spring 2011. His London Symphony Orchestra frequently works with the Boston Symphony Double Concerto for Violin and Viola, written for Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Vienna Anne-Sophie Mutter and Yuri Bashmet, received Honorary Guest Conductor Philharmonic. In addition, he has held chief its premiere in 2009. Ms Mutter also premiered NHK Symphony Orchestra artistic posts with such orchestras as the Houston André Previn‘s second Violin Concerto in 2012 Symphony, London Symphony, Los Angeles and his Second Violin Sonata in December 2013 Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony and Royal in New York. Philharmonic orchestras. In 2012, André Previn was appointed Honorary Guest Conductor of For his 80th birthday celebrations in 2009, the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Carnegie Hall presented four concerts which showcased the diversity of his career. Highlights As a pianist, André Previn enjoys recording and of the past seasons included performances with performing song recitals, chamber music and jazz. the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Pittsburgh Symphony He has given recitals with Renée Fleming at Lincoln Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic and a tour of Center and with Barbara Bonney at the Mozarteum Japan with the NHK Symphony Orchestra. in Salzburg. He regularly gives chamber music concerts with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lynn Harrell, André Previn records for Deutsche Grammophon. as well as with members of the Boston Symphony His music is published by G Schirmer Inc and and London Symphony orchestras, and the Chester Music Ltd. Vienna Philharmonic. lso.co.uk LSO International Violin Festival 5 Coming soon LSO International Violin Festival Alina Ibragimova is one of the most richly talented and expressive of violinists. The Guardian ALINA IBRAGIMOVA JOSHUA BELL THE STRAD SUNDAY BBC RADIO 3 Sun 14 Jun 2015 7.30pm Sun 28 Jun 2015 7.30pm Sun 28 Jun 2015 LUNCHTIME CONCERTS Mozart Violin Concerto No 3 Sibelius Violin Concerto Photographic Exhibition James Ehnes Mahler Symphony No 1 (‘Titan’) Berlioz Symphonie fantastique 3–5.30pm, Fountain Room Thu 11 Jun 2015 1pm, LSO St Luke’s Bernard Haitink conductor Pablo Heras-Casado conductor Panel Discussion: Making Veronika Eberle Alina Ibragimova violin Joshua Bell violin Instrument Lessons Fun for Kids Thu 18 Jun 2015 1pm, LSO St Luke’s 6pm, Barbican Hall Nicola Benedetti Free entry, no ticket required Thu 25 Jun 2015 1pm, LSO St Luke’s 020 7638 8891 The LSO International Violin Festival is generously supported by Jonathan Moulds CBE International Violin Festival Media Partner lso.co.uk/violinfestival 6 Programme Notes 10 June 2015 André Previn (b 1930) Violin Concerto (‘Anne-Sophie’) (2001) 1 MODERATO is remarkably astute as well as translucent and 2 CADENZA – SLOWLY consistently effective. Likewise, he puts the soloist 3 ANDANTE (FROM A TRAIN IN GERMANY) through her paces in a solo part that calls on the widest range of skills and techniques, yet all of ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER VIOLIN them infallibly work on the instrument. The result is a beautifully written piece. PROGRAMME NOTE WRITER Few violin concertos are named after their first GEORGE HALL performers, but André Previn’s was conceived for, It is also a piece with important associations for dedicated to and written specifically to highlight the the composer. Like Anne-Sophie Mutter, Previn is talents of tonight’s soloist, who gave the work its German by birth, but he and his family had to leave premiere with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (who the country in 1939 because of Nazi oppression of commissioned it) in 2002. In fact, that was the year in the Jews. In November 1999, he called his manager, which she and Previn married; and though they have Ronald Wilford, to wish him a happy birthday, telling subsequently divorced they continue to maintain him that he was phoning from a train in Germany. the most positive of friendships and the closest of Wilford pondered this for some days before professional relationships. Previn has said of Anne- suggesting to Previn that his new piece should in ANDRÉ PREVIN: Sophie, ‘I don’t know a better violinist or musician. some way reflect his journey through the country THE VERSATILE MUSICIAN She has immense imagination, and her technique where he was born and lived in for 10 years. is flawless. From a technical standpoint there are The idea eventually bore fruit in the concerto’s André Previn is often described certain things she particularly likes, and I was able finale, which is a set of variations Previn based on as the world’s most versatile to give her something that she enjoys performing’. a particular German children’s song suggested by musician, and for good reason. Mutter: ‘Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär’ und auch zwei Over the course of his multi- Flügel hätt, flög ich zu dir’, which in English means, faceted career he has excelled ‘I don’t know a better violinist ‘If I were a little bird and had two wings, I’d fly to in almost every possible musical or musician. She has immense you’. The nostalgic intention of the music is also endeavour – from early experience noted in Previn’s quotation at the start of the as an Oscar-winning film imagination, and her technique movement of these words from T S Eliot’s Little composer, to work as conductor is flawless.’ Gidding, the last of his Four Quartets: with many of the world’s finest orchestras, his virtuosity as a André Previn on Anne-Sophie Mutter ‘We shall not cease from exploration classical and jazz pianist, and of And the end of all our exploring course a steady output of fine Will be to arrive where we started classical concert works including As well she might.