Epic Saturday: Beethoven's Violin Concerto
Violinist Tasmin Little introduces the concerto that 'every violinist on the planet wants to play'
Last updated 14th Mar 2021
Violinist Tasmin Little spoke to Simon Mayo on Saturday as part of his Epic Saturday slot, introducing a recording of Beethoven's Violin Concerto played by Janine Jansen, all part of Scala Radio's exploration of Beethoven's music in the composer's 250th anniversary year.
Tasmin's multi-award winning and varied career has encompassed international concerto and recital performances with the likes of the New York Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, City of Birmingham and Philharmonia orchestras. She gives master classes, workshops and offers community outreach work too.
"As a perforing violinist who's used to being in front of people, life is peculiar at the moment, and slightly sad," explained Tasmin during her interview with Simon on Saturday.
"I was going to step down at the end of the summer. I had extended the concert performances to the end of the year and rescheduled them. But the recent news from the government is that we may not be able to perform with that timeframe. Our livelihood - our reason to practise, everything - is in a state of terrible flux."
"So, the swansong is on pause at the moment. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that we will be able resume concert performances in September."
Where does the Beethoven sit amongst them?
Of the Beethoven violin concerto - a work Tasmin has played many times herself - Simon asked where it sits in comparison to other concertos.
"It stands pretty much at the top of the tree," replied Tasmin. "Every violinist on the planet aims to play the Beethoven concerto, then the Elgar, and then the Brahms. They're considered 'grown up' concertos - in stature they're perfect, they're structurely brilliant, full of ideas, virtuosity, stunning harmonies.
"The Beethoven steals the show from the Brahms in terms of lyricism from the Brahms. The Brahms sees the violin in battle with the orchestra; with the Beethoven the violin and the orchestra are more permanently in harmony.
"The Beethoven concerto everyone says its all in those opening few notes. Beethoven makes the violinist wait a really long time. It's a long orchestral introduction lasting two and a half minutes - that's a long time to stand on the platform for these first few notes.
"I think everybody thinks that if you can make this opening beautiful - it's the one of the most important moments for the violinist. There's a moment when everyone holds their breath waiting for this beautiful emerging violin sound to happen. You want everyone to gasp in appreciation of the music.
Tasmin selected Janine Jansen's recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto for Epic Saturday.
"She has the most beautifully stunning sound," explained Tasmin. "I think she has a great sense of style and poetry in this piece.
"Sometimes some performances can come over a little bit rough. There's a difference between being powerful and being rough. Beethoven demands power, but I don't think its appropriate to play his music in a rough style. Jansen conveys this contradiction between the violin and the orchestra but she does it in a way whereby it is stylustically appropriate to my way of thinking."