January 2016 update

Happy New Year! Here's a few bits of Weinberg-related news to keep you busy for the coming month.

Concerts
These are upcoming events happening in the UK:

London, Wigmore Hall
12 February, 19:30

Gidon Kremer, Daniil Trifonov, Giedre Dirvanauskaite

As part of the Wigmore Hall's 'featured artist' series, Trifonov gives a selection of concerts, including this one which features regular collaborators from the Kremeratica Baltica. Gidon Kremer needs no introduction, of course, and the talents of Dirvanauskaite's cello playing were highlighted on their ECM Weinberg album, released in 2014.

Programme includes:

• Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)

• Preghiera (arrangement of themes from the 2nd mvt of Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2)

• Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919-1996)

• Sonata No. 5 for violin and piano Op. 53

• Sonata No. 3 for solo violin Op. 126

• INTERVAL

• Sergey Rachmaninov (1873-1943)

• Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D minor Op. 9

Tickets and further details available here.





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Manchester, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama
18 February, 13:10

Roberto Carillo-Garcia (Double Bass)

The double bass leader of Manchester's own Hallé orchestra, Roberto Carillo-Garcia, gives a recital of music for solo double bass as part of the University of Manchester's lunchtime concerts. The programme includes Weinberg's sonata for solo double bass, Op. 108. The concert is free, no ticket required.

Programme includes: 

Weinberg Sonata for Double Bass op. 108

Tom Johnson Failing: A Very Difficult Piece for Solo String Bass

David Anderson Four short pieces for Solo Double Bass

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Video

The always fantastic 'International Mieczysław Weinberg Society' have released the following video of an interview with Irina Shostakovich and Alexander Raskatov, both close friends of Weinberg's. In this interesting and often moving interview, the two discuss Weinberg's life and music:

The conversation was filmed in April 2015, at the DSCH centre for Shostakovich research in Paris.

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Publications

The upcoming issue of the DSCH journal features two separate articles on Weinberg's music - one, by myself, and the other by Kim Rud, entitled 'Two eclectic and enigmatic preludes by Mieczysław Weinberg'. My article an over-exposition of Weinberg's life and music, and an introduction to the wider field of Weinberg-related research and study.

To order the latest issue, visit the DSCH website - also a rich resource for Shostakovich-related info. 

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My own work

Progress continues apace on my PhD work - edging towards the proof-reading and final editing stages now, with a view to submit my thesis before Easter. In other news, I'll also be starting a new Lecturing position, certainly an exciting step forward towards a full-time Lecturing job.