‘Where there are violins there is hope’ - The Red Violin Festival Leeds
The Red Violin festival takes place in Leeds 14-19 October, celebrating the violin in different guises throughout
the city. It was founded by violinist extraordinaire Madeleine Mitchell who has performed in no less than 50 countries. The idea to stage it in Leeds came from the former Chairman of Opera North who heard Madeleine play in Leeds five years ago and said "let’s do the festival here".
A highlight of the week long festival is the The Violins of Hope concert on Thursday 17th October, 7.30-9.15pm at The Venue at Leeds Conservatoire. It features the outstanding London Chamber Ensemble with Opera North rising star singer Sian Griffiths and violinist Chloe Hanslip in the European Premiere of the beautiful song cycle by popular American composer Jake Heggie. The librettist Gene Scheer (who wrote the American Anthem for President Biden’s inauguration) was at English National Opera for the performance of their opera ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and asked Madeleine if she could include this in The Red Violin festival. ‘Intonations - Songs from the Violins of Hope’ (40’)’ is based in part on the book ‘The Violins of Hope’ about the violins rescued from the Holocaust where they saved lives by being played in the orchestra but it’s also about liberation. Expect to be entranced by this beautiful, tuneful music. Tickets for this concert are on offer at two for one, more here.
In the first half of this unmissable concert the London Chamber Ensemble play pieces from their new album
by Herbert Howells (1892-1983). All first recordings, including the recently discovered earlier version of “In
Gloucestershire”, where the composer came from, c1920. Here’s a sneak preview of the last movement.
Amazingly there’s a painting in Leeds Arts Gallery, discovered by our Artistic Director also called ‘In Gloucestershire’, by Harold Gilman 1916, which has been used for the cover of this great album. Signed copies of the new CD will be available after the concert with an opportunity to meet the artists. Book here. For the special two for one ticket offer - enter code redviolinoffer at 'coupon code' at the ticket link.
The name of The Red Violin festival comes from cards of paintings collected by our Artistic Director called Le Violin Rouge - many great artists have painted violins from Picasso to Chagall and Dali. Coincidentally, the film ‘The Red Violin’ came out the year after the first festival so we’ve included this and added brief virtuosic music for solo violin from the film score before the two screenings on Friday 18th performed live by a brilliant young violinist from the Royal College of Music.
There’s just time to get to the Everyman Cinema from the lovely Clothworkers’ Centenary Concert Hall at the University after the lunchtime concert, finishing 2pm, where you can hear music ranging from Michael Nyman to Brahms and Bartok folk fiddle duos and a brand new piece. Something for everyone to discover and enjoy.
See you there!