A tribute to the virtuoso

The French Violin School emerged shortly after the Revolution, with Rode, Kreutzer and Baillot as its pillars. Their Méthode de violon (1803), adopted by the Conservatoire, set out the school’s aims. Virtuosity was no longer just a matter of brilliance; it was also seen as a means of expression and of communicating human feeling. The violin sonata became a favoured medium, often featuring dramatic dialogue. This programme traces the emergence of instrumental “heroism”, from Hérold and Steibelt to Beethoven's “Kreutzer” Sonata, which was dedicated to one of the masters of the French Violin School. Shuichi Okada and Clément Lefebvre convey all the intensity of this repertoire.

Concert followed by a cocktail.