A series of maritime-themed music concerts is being launched at Plymouth University this November.
Being organised by Peninsula Arts, the public arts programme of the University, the three concerts will be performed by musicians from the South West and beyond.
They will feature classical works centred around the seas and oceans of Europe, including pieces by Vivaldi, Rossini and Dvorak.
The first concert of the series, Nordic Waves, is on November 14 with two others – Atlantic Connections on March 05 and Mediterranean on May 07 – to follow in the new year.
The concerts are being organised by Pierre Largeron, a 24-year-old concert violinist who is currently a doctoral researcher in music at the University. He said:
“We wanted to launch something new, which would appeal to regular concert goers but also be something that younger audiences could identify with. What we have developed is a balance of famous works and lesser known pieces, which we hope will excite and surprise everyone who comes along. So from a Norwegian drama to a Scottish voyage, through early Russian music and Estonian instrumental dialogue, we will be sailing on the waves of common music influences.”
Pierre graduated with highest honours from London’s Royal Academy of Music in 2012, and since his first concert at the age of five, he has performed over 400 concerts throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
He is currently studying alongside Professor Eduardo Miranda in the University’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (ICCMR).
The first concert is taking place at the Sherwell Centre on Saturday 14 November, from 7.30pm, and will see Pierre performing alongside Jane Pirie (cello) and Daniel King-Smith (piano).
It will feature: Solveig's Song by Grieg; Sibelius’ Five Pieces for Piano, Op.75; Glinka’s Trio – Pathétique; Spiegel im Spiegel, for cello and piano, by Arvo Pärt; Gade’s Piano Trio op.42 in F major; and Lowlands Away, for violin and cello, by Dyson.
Simon Ible, Director of Music at Peninsula Arts, said:
“Plymouth’s status as a city of maritime discovery is the perfect place to stage this concert series. Over the three performances, we will be introducing audiences to a range of exciting works which will hopefully ignite their passions for classical music.”
Tickets, priced £10 (£8 concessions), are available from the Peninsula Arts Box Office.
