By Diana Pendleton
Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky date in many countries. However, the date was far from unlucky to those attending the concert in the Academy of Arts on Friday evening here in Tirana.
The audience were lucky enough to hear the Russian Violinist Elena Korzhenevich play Beethoven’s Romance Number 2. The diminutive figure entranced us with her mastery of her instrument. We were even treated to a solo virtuoso piece as an encore by Ms Korzhenevich. It was as if she stood alone on the stage with her violin, she seemed oblivious of the orchestra behind her or the audience in font of her.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a crucial figure in the transitional period from Classical to Romantic in Western Classical music. He began going deaf in his twenties but continued to compose, conduct and perform even when he was completely deaf.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1839) began composing in the full Romantic tradition. His Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy was his first recognised masterpiece. This was the work that the Symphony Orchestra of Tirana began the concert with. Interestingly, Elena Korzhenevich studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow.
The last piece of the evening was Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony. The orchestra, ably conducted by Dr Oleg Arapi, was in full swing by this time. They played superbly, bringing out the full range of this work. It would be difficult to single out individual musicians for their expertise as all played with full commitment and zest.
The Concert Hall was almost full and, looking around, everyone was attentive throughout and appreciative of the fine pieces. The audience was a good mixture of men and women, and of all age groups. The performance ended in rapturous applause (djana2206@gmail.com)
