On the 16th February I was lucky enough to be able to attend a BBC Radio 3 New Generations concert at Sage Gateshead. The BBC New Generation Artists scheme is one which talented musicians can be a part of for two years, giving them opportunities to perform throughout the UK. Elena Urioste, a violinist in her first year of the scheme, travelled to The Sage Gateshead from America to perform, and this will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at a later date. Her programme was devised from the fact that she travels frequently between America and the UK, which was a lovely personal touch.
Beginning the concert was Elgar’s ‘Concerto in E minor’. The start was full of vitality, with quick passages and vibrato soaring above Michael Brown’s piano accompaniment. It was clear that Brown and Urioste have worked for a long time together, and each brought character and emotion into the piece, darting between different colours throughout. Noticeable in Urioste’s playing is how she seems to make time for herself for notes to sing, making any silences stand out prominently.
Following the serious Elgar, was Aaron Copland’s ‘Nocturne’. Urioste and Brown spent some time at the beginning talking to the audience about this, obviously being inspired from the time they have been based in New York. The modern jazz with the ‘smoky’ element to it were clear throughout; Urioste’s part almost improvisatory over the constant theme chiming from the piano.
Benjamin Britten’s ‘Suite for violin and piano’ is, admittedly, not my favourite piece by Britten, but it was played extremely well by Urioste and Brown. The first movement in particular stood out for the interaction between the piano and violin: the spiky sections weaved throughout with intricacy. Movement three, with its trance-like qualities suited Urioste’s style, and she captivated the audience with her mastery of a beautiful tone suspended in stasis.
To finish was Paul Schoenfield’s Four Souvenirs pieces which allowed Urioste and Brown to really show their sense of fun. It was clear that the audience had fun too, with a laugh being raised at the end for the ‘barn dance’ inspired piece.
This was a superb concert, and it is clear that Urioste will go far in her violin career, with a performance with BBC Philharmonic scheduled for a few days after this performance had taken place. Indeed, the audience enjoyed it so much, she earned herself an encore, playing George Gershwin’s ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’ beautifully, earning her another long applause. Listen out for the BBC Radio 3 broadcast if you can, because you will be in for a treat.
Words: Emma Longmuir
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