On 13 November, the Minnesota Orchestra will give the World Premiere of Sir John Tavener's major new work for violin and orchestra Ikon of Eros. The Orchestra commissioned the work as part of its centenary celebrations and the soloist will be the orchestra's concertmaster, Jorja Fleezanis. The composer admits that the initial request for a 'violin concerto' didn't immediately grab him until he talked by phone from Greece to Fleezanis. 'I had formed a vague concept of the piece but wasn't sure how to develop it' Tavener explains. 'Jorja asked me if I could visualise the piece having a vocal presence and I suddenly realised that this was exactly the element I needed to write the piece, and so I have included a small choir in the work.' The premiere takes place at the St Paul Cathedral, and there are further performances on 14 and 15 November. Paul Goodwin, who has worked closely with Tavener before, will conduct.
