Clarissa Bevilacqua: A Journey through Time and Expression

Sei sola. You are alone.

Solitude is a philosophical musing that many have pondered on. For violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua, it has marked her career. At nine years old, alone before a crowd of 10,000, she enchanted the audience with her inspired musicality. At seventeen, presenting in front of the Concours Musical International de Montréal jury, Bevilacqua was the only candidate who chose to play solo - without accompaniment - during the first round. And last year, Bevilacqua released her debut album, Dream Catcher, featuring Augusta Read Thomas’ complete works for solo violin.

The individual voice of a violin and violinist is explored in this programme that spans three centuries. Meticulously chosen by Bevilacqua, each piece demonstrates the development of violin expression throughout various musical periods, the common theme being each composer’s distinctive contribution to the solo violin repertoire.

Dream Catcher opens the concert in an ethereal, foggy daze. As this bewitching story unfurls, we may be left wanting to remain in an abstract haze. This is exactly when the second work, Sidestep Reel, composed by Wynton Marsalis, steps in. We are thrust into a contemporary work that slides into the world of folk and jazz with its Afro-Celtic dance style.

These modern opening acts are then tempered by the tradition of Viennese art music. Paul Hindemith and Fritz Kreisler’s characteristic flavours and idiomatic writing are showcased with virtuosic flair, proving that a similar ‘nurture’ can create extremely distinct but equally compelling styles.

The last set of compositions juxtaposes past and present. Bach’s Violin Partita No.3 is one of six for solo violin and, almost exactly two hundred years later, inspired Ysa?e’s own. Beginning with the same initial notes as Bach’s Partita No.3, Ysa?e’s Sonata No. 2 pays homage, before meandering into a unique composition that fluctuates between incredibly technical passages and deep, sensitive, song-like melodies.

It was J.S. Bach who wrote “Sei Solo” on the manuscript of his Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. It is widely accepted that instead of writing “You are alone”, he meant to write Sei Soli, meaning “Six Solos”. But perhaps not. Bach may also have been taken by the exploration of solitude for the instrument and instrumentalist. With her violin and the musings of six great composers, Clarissa Bevilacqua adds her own exceptional interpretation.

Non sei così sola. You are (not so) alone.

You can watch this upcoming live-streamed concert at 20:00 CET on Thursday 25 January on LinkedIn or via www.classeek.com. We hope you join us and enjoy the show!

Programme notes by Malika Jumbe