World-class musicians are bringing melodies to Merton for the major Wimbledon International Music Festival that starts today.
One of the harmonious highlights will be the Borodin Quartet, one of the world’s most celebrated and longest lasting string quartets.
The renowned quartet, all graduates of the Moscow Conservatory, will be performing classics from Beethoven and Borodin to Schubert and Shostakovich.
The original quartet was known for its close relationship with Dmitri Shostakovich and interpretations of his compositions, playing concerts in the West during the Cold War.
The festival celebrates a wide spectrum of music, from New Orleans jazz to classical to new music performed by gifted children from the Yehudi Menuhin international school.
“Music is a passion for me, and one I am passionate about sharing,” said festival director Anthony Wilkinson.
“I am delighted to be able to create, in the community in which I have lived for more than forty years, a festival sharing the experience of hearing and meeting world class artists in the company of friendly festival audiences.”
One of the acts to watch out for will be BBC Young Musician of the Year, Martin James Bartlett, who will play piano recital featuring Bach, Liszt and Prokofiev.
He will be part of the young musicians playing at the New Generation Artists Series in free lunch time concerts on Spencer Hill.
The festival will be held in a number of venues around Wimbledon including St John the Baptist Church, Trinity Church and Wimbledon Synagogue.
The artist in residence at this year’s event will be Robin O’Neill, a conductor and bassoonist.
He will be conducting a performance of Stravinsky’s The Soldiers Tale with members of the Philharmonia Orchestra.
This will be an original production for the festival and is sure to be a special event.
Performances will carry on until November 23.
Picture courtesy od Wendy, with thanks
