American violinist Benjamin Beilman was an instant crowd favourite when he last joined us in 2023 and makes his welcome return this month.
Hailed as ‘poised and monstrously talented’ (Philadelphia Inquirer), Beilman’s passion-filled playing has been described by The New York Times as ‘muscular with a glint of violence’.
It’s no wonder he has a cult-like following, fondly dubbed the ‘Harry Styles of the classical music scene’ when he was last in Hobart.
Once again Beilman will be stepping onto the Federation Concert Hall stage with his nearly 300-year-old violin, the ‘Ysaÿe’.
Made by the Italian genius luthier Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri 'del Gesù' in 1740, the violin is named after Belgian virtuoso, Eugène Ysaÿe, who played the instrument in the latter part of his career, famously calling it ‘the faithful companion of my life’.
For Beilman too, the violin is a beloved companion (which he carries in ‘a nearly indestructible carbon fibre and metal mesh violin case’).
‘When Ysaÿe died in 1931, he was granted a state funeral by Belgium and this violin was carried on a red velvet pillow in front of his casket. Thankfully, they didn't bury it with him!’ Beilman says.
In addition to Ysaÿe, the violin has been played by illustrious names such as Charles Munch, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zukerman, and Sergey Khachatryan.
‘It's comforting to know that some of my favourite historical violinists have shed blood, sweat, and tears on the same fingerboard,’ Beilman says.
In his highly anticipated TSO return, Beilman will perform Mendelssohn’s sparkling Violin Concerto in E minor – one of the most beloved concertos ever written.
The concert will be led by Norway’s Tabita Berglund, an exciting and in-demand conductor renowned for her alert, charismatic and inspiring style.
This is Tabita’s TSO debut and, alongside Dvořák’s lyrical and folk-inspired Symphony No 8, she will introduce us to Pan, a tone poem by Norwegian composer David Monrad-Johansen.
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