The Violin - A Celebration

21st December 2004

On Sunday 6 February 2005, The Music Sales Group presents a concert at Wigmore Hall featuring violinists Corina Belcea, Nicola Benedetti and Laura Samuel with pianists Carole Presland and Alison Rhind. The concert includes four world premieres from Music Sales composers and celebrates the launch of the Wigmore Hall New Music Fund, which promotes the commissioning and performance of new works at this important international venue.

Nicola Benedetti won the prestigious title of BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004. Since then she has given numerous performances in the UK and abroad. Her solo recital debut took place at Wigmore Hall in October 2004 and she returns to this venue to premiere new works by Craig Armstrong and John Tavener, with pianist Alison Rhind. Nicola’s violin is a Pietro Guarneri 1751.

The violinists Corina Belcea and Laura Samuel are founding members of the Belcea Quartet, which formed whilst they were at the Royal College of Music, London. The quartet is the Wigmore Hall’s Quartet in Residence and in 2004 they were chosen for BBC Radio 3’s prestigious New Generation Artists Scheme. Corina has performed as a soloist in many major venues in Europe and the Far East. For this concert Corina and Laura will premiere a new work by Judith Weir. Laura and pianist Carole Presland will perform a new piece by Joby Talbot. Corina plays a 1666 Stradivarius and Laura’s instrument is the 1731 ‘Payne’ Stradivarius.
 
This event also marks the publication of The Violin: A Collection, a Chester Music book of compositions by Michael Nyman, Richard Rodney Bennett, Philip Glass, Manuel de Falla and many more. All four of the pieces to be premiered at the concert are also included in the book. Copies will be on sale at Wigmore Hall and will also be available to purchase from www.musicroom.com or your local music retailer. (Cat. No. CH69641, £14.95)

Concert Tickets: £20, £18, £14, £10, all bookable in advance from:
Wigmore Hall Box Office, 36 Wigmore Street, London W1H 2BP.
Telephone 020 7935 2141