On the last Saturday in February at Bedford School, audience members were once again left in awe after yet another breathtaking performance by the Bedford Symphony Orchestra (BSO).
Conducted by Bjorn Bantock, the orchestra presented a programme of Romantic-era compositions, with works from Sibelius, Glinka and Brahms making up the evening’s musical line-up.
The concert began with the short but powerful ‘Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla’ by Glinka. This piece was the perfect way to begin the concert, with its light-hearted mood and virtuosic first violin part.
But this was just an appetiser compared to the next piece in the programme: Sibelius’s renowned Violin Concerto in D minor.
In the moments before soloist Jakub Jakowicz entered the stage for the first time, the sense of expectation could be felt in the air.
As soon as his bow touched the string, the audience knew that they were not to be disappointed. Audience member Isaac said: “The concerto was very difficult, yet expertly played. The double stops were especially impressive.”
Not only did Jakub give a spellbinding performance (with a fantastic encore by Telemann), but he also held a meet-and-greet session for younger members of the audience, many of whom benefitted from the under-18s free ticket programme – a priceless opportunity for up-and-coming musicians to meet a successful professional.
After the interval, it was time for the final piece of the concert: Brahms Symphony No.1. Nicknamed ‘Beethoven’s Tenth’, a piece that includes direct references to Beethoven’s works, most notably in the 4th movement, where one of the main tunes alludes to ‘Ode to Joy’, from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
Audience member Andrew said: “The 4th movement was sublime – I loved the mellifluous cello lines.”
The quote of the night comes from Jakub Jakowicz himself, and is addressed to all young musicians who might read this article: “Follow the genre that you love – that is where you will find the most joy.”
Make sure not to miss the next concert, performed by the Bedford Sinfonia, on Saturday, 2 May. For more information and tickets, go to bedfordsymphony.com.
By Elias Demetrius-Louisy
BOS Youth Ambassador
