Central Coast Conservatorium of Music Head of Strings, Karina Moss-Hollands, will be taking to the stage on 7 July as a soloist with Symphony Central Coast, performing Sergei Prokofiev’s first Violin Concerto – just weeks after a cycling accident nearly left her unable to play.
“The Prokofiev also has one of the hardest passages in the violin repertoire. It’s been an interesting few weeks since my road bike accident and I’ve had the learn to practice in a different way while I was unable to use my right bowing arm, but I’m happy to say it’s now sounding the way I want it to!”.
The Prokofiev Concerto is one of four pieces being performed by Symphony Central Coast in the French Connections concert, featuring music inspired by the ‘roaring twenties’. The concert will be conducted by guest conductor, Chris Hunt – Central Coast Grammar School’s Director of Instrumental Music.
Paris in the 1920s was the place to be for musicians, artists, writers and creatives of all types – a real cultural melting pot! The “crazy years” drew writers like Hemingway, Yeats and Pound. Artists developed dadaism, surrealism, cubism and futurism. It was the home of Picasso, Modigliani, Duchamp, and Satie, Ravel and Stravinsky. Symphony Central Coast will dip into the middle of that scene, with a few different glimpses and perspectives of a vibrant period of history, complete with all the excitement, energy and effervescence.
Symphony Central Coast Artistic Director, Steven Stanke, described Prokofiev’s concert as full of “rebellion, sarcasm, dry wit and hard work”. “The opening has shimmering delicacy, the middle section has infectious energy; the soloist sounding like a mesmerizing gypsy fiddler with many string crossing and double/triple stopped chords as the rhythms threaten to send the music off the rails. The finale reveals a pensive and beautiful grazioso as the work comes dreamily to an ethereal close. Karina Moss-Hollands will do all this, and more.”
Also on the program is American composer Aaron Copland’s ballet Appalachian Spring and Fanfare for the Common Man, George Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Maurice Ravel’s Bolero.
Concert Details
- What: French Connections
- When: Sunday 7 July, 2.30pm
- Where: Central Coast Grammar School Performing Arts Centre
- Tickets www.symphonycentralcoast.com.au
