4 March: Razumovsky Academy at Wigmore Hall

Back to Wigmore Hall again, this time to attend a concert by the Razumovsky Academy’s exceptionally gifted young musicians.  They were truly impressive!

Joel Sandelson, a 15 year-old cellist, was astounding.  He performed the World Premiere of Lowell Liebermann’s Sonata No.4 Op 108.  I am no expert on the cello, but was just startled by what he could do with this instrument.  His capability to produce deep and matured sounds and his capacity to interpret and manipulate such complicated music was just amazing.  He played another piece – the fast, jolly and amusing Spinning Song by Popper.  It looked technically mighty difficult to me; my goodness, his left thumb remained on one string while other fingers moved extremely quickly onto another string, and the bow moved over these two strings to make lovely sounds.  I have not seen anything like this before and it was totally impressive.  I can only praise his talent and the confidence that goes with it.

PS I found there are a few pieces with the word “spinning” in their title:  Mendelssohn wrote a piano piece called Spinning Song, which Evgeny Kissin played as an encore about three years ago; there’s the Schubert / Liszt transcription called Gretchen am Spinnrade, which Alasdair Beatson played at Wigmore just a few days ago; and my daughter, Erika, is practicing a violin work called Spinning Wheel by Rubenstein!).

14-year violinist Ann Hou Saeter played the 1st movement of Brahms’s Sonata No. 3.  She played this challenging Sonata excellently.  She produced pure and beautiful sounds that were so pleasant to my ears.  I love the way this movement starts – melodic violin, somewhat agitated and urged by the piano part.  It brings me sentimental feeling every time I listen to it.   Anne’s playing captured me right from the beginning!  I wished I could listen to all 4 movements.

Another charming violinist, Guro Kleven Hagen, played Ravel’s Tzigane.  I’m very fond of this exotic and mysterious piece.  It was in fact the third time I heard it played at this venue (in relatively short period of time).  The first time it was played by Jennifer Pyke in October last year, and the second time by So-Ock Kim in December.  Jennifer was the youngest BBC Musician of the Year ever in 2002, and So-Ock was selected as a YCAT musician while ago (just like Tom Gould, who performed for us in September!).  How lucky I am to come across this piece again, and didn’t Guro play well - her playing was mesmerizing, presenting the power and subtleness of this instrument.  What confidence she had – well, in fact, all the performers today had no hint of hesitation!

Ha-Young Jung, a prize-winning double-bass player, stunned the audience too.  She played Cadenza by Teppo Hauta-Aho.  I wish I could comment something sensible about this splendid double-bass player and her performance, but sadly I am totally ignorant of this instrument!  One thing that is certain is that she is anothe r extremely gifted young pupil of the Razumovsky Academy, and I truly enjoyed listening and watching how it was played.

The Razumovsky Ensemble was founded in 1998 by Oleg Kogan, himself a very talented cellist.  The Ensemble performs regularly at this venue; you can find more information on their website www.razumovsky.org.uk.   In 2006 he launched the Razumovsky Academy, to provide their selected pupils a special programme that is catered for each musician and opportunities to perform in public.  I think what he’s doing is wonderful.  Creating a tailor-made training is one thing, but providing them opportunities to perform, at a young age, in a prestigious concert hall would definitely make a difference to their musical development.  I am sure that under Oleg’s guidance these musicians will thrive and flourish.