Kiann Chow (W)
Sunday 19th February 2006
At an early performance of the Mendelssöhn Violin Concerto in E minor, the soloist was the 14-year-old prodigy Joseph Joachim, later the famous friend and collaborator of Brahms. On the evening of Sunday 19th February 2006, we were treated to a performance of great quality by Kiann Chow (W), only three years older than Joachim.
The opening of the first movement, Allegro molto appassionato, is different from the typical classical concerto in that the solo instrument plays from the outset. Kiann’s playing then, and for the rest of the performance, was of the highest standard. She played from memory and with great confidence. Her phrasing in solo passages was impressive and clear in a duet with the wind section. The cadenza comes surprisingly early in the movement. She played this with great confidence as well.
The first movement leads without a break into the well-known Andante. Once again, there were beautiful passages, both for solo violin and in the form of a conversation between the violin and the wind section.
There is a slow introduction to the final movement (Allegro molto vivace) before the tempo is raised. Once again, Kiann played with immense confidence and ability. The orchestra played well throughout, very ably led by Tom Harvey (D) and conducted sensitively by the Director of Music, Mark Shepherd. There was rapturous applause at the end of this wonderful performance.
Stephen Shuttleworth