Martinu's Second Violin Concerto: Playing it in Paris, from the Second Violins

June 24, 2013 at 10:56 AM

Two years ago, the Dutch violinist Lieke Arts, unknown to me at the time, e-mailed me asking for advise about a special violinconcerto, because she had found my violin concertos on the internet. She was thinking about playing Martinu's Second Violin Concerto and the Rosza Violin Concerto. In January, I found out that she played the Martinu Second Violin Concerto with a student orchestra Krashna Musika. She had been concertmaster for seven years, and so she had the opportunity to play a violin concerto. I auditioned for the orchestra and got in, thinking I would be the oldest orchestra member. But there were 3 orchestra members who had played in this orchestra for a long time: one since 1995, another since 1986 and also a 63-year-old woman who had played since 1973. In the choir there were some older members as well. 30 years ago, in 1983, I had also played in Paris, with another student orchestra. So the world does not change very much, only the cars are less old-fashioned.

Here some photos outside the church in Paris and inside during the performance of Martinu's Second Violin Concerto, as well as the programm and some Youtube links to the programm we played. I feel young again and I am very happy to have played this rare violin concerto, which is the most beautiful one I know. I think it is even better than the Britten, Walton and Korngold Violin Concertos The 2nd violin accompaniment score was quite difficult, just like Petroushka. I gonna miss this orchestra now that the concerts in Holland have ended.

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