Kerrod Trott 
Virtuoso violinist Jonathon Glonek is presenting a program of unaccompanied works by Bach, Paganini and Ysaye in the Aldinga Institute Hall on September 28th.
Highlight of the performance, however, will be a solo violin rendition of Rimsky Korsakov’s “Scheherezade”, which Jonathon received directly from the composer Shuh Mikhail Arkadiyovych.
Glonek travelled to Kyiv in 2002 as a guest of the Kyiv Festival Symphony where he performed as soloist in the Brahms Violin Concerto. Shukh had recently completed a work for chamber symphony that was also featured on the same program and had made a strong impression.
At the conclusion of the tour, the two men had become friends and remained in contact until Shukh passed away in 2019. “Shukh himself was a very accomplished violinist and having seen my work decided to write a piece to put me through my paces. It worked. It took several attempts over some years before I dared to play it”
Scheherezade is a four-movement symphonic work originally written by Rimsky Korsakov. It features many lush violin solos and is universally revered by musicians and audiences alike. Shukh’s “Scheherazade’s Dreams” takes the form of a series of variations on the themes of the original work.
“It was the very first classical work I heard as child and the themes have still stayed with me to this day,” says Glonek.
The work also shows the way that classical music can remain relevant to modern times. “There has been a real crisis in contemporary composition for some time as artists struggle to see to where to head next compositionally as culture evolves,” Glonek says.
“That’s especially difficult as technology such as AI encroaches on human creativity. And many modern works aren’t meeting the challenge, being as inaccessible to both performer and audience alike.
“Shukh is a breath of fresh air. He had strong classical discipline and a tight, polished, focus on string instruments but best of all, you could see a real sense of repose in the audience as they respond to his music. A winning formula!”
Glonek’s program will also include unaccompanied works by Bach, Paganini and Ysaye.
“Each of these works are each part of the violinist core repertoire and musical bible and with its breakneck virtuosic tempi and deeply lyric qualities, I believe Shukh’s work has earned its place in such company and will become a popular mainstay of the repertoire,” Glonek says.
This concert series is part of Glonek’s ongoing project to bring Australia’s finest musicians, playing the world’s most important classical music, to rural and regional audiences who otherwise would not have the opportunity to hear it.
“Classical music is a great gift to everyone, but there are not that many opportunities to hear it in the bush, or indeed our suburbs,” says Glonek. “Classical music is an area in which Australians have really punched above their way.
“It is very frustrating for the professional measuring its past accomplishments against a backdrop of continuing cuts, restructuring at the tertiary level which often creates that path for programmes to exit completely.”
SOLO VIOLIN WITH JONATHON GLONEK
2.30 pm Sunday 28th September
Aldinga Institute Hall
22 Old Coach Road ALDINGA
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