Elgar’s Violin Sonata Live
Sunday 1st November, 11am and 2pm
The Firs, Elgar’s Birthplace, Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, WR2 6RH
There are few more fitting places to experience the music of Edward Elgar than the house in which he was born. This November, The Firs in Lower Broadheath provides the intimate setting for a special performance of Elgar’s Violin Sonata in E Minor, performed by violinist Alex Postlethwaite and pianist John Moore, who bring their own flair and musical chemistry to Franck’s much-loved sonata before turning to Elgar’s more introspective masterpiece.
Written in 1918 during Elgar’s final major creative period, the Violin Sonata is a deeply personal and reflective work. Elgar himself described it as being ‘full of golden sounds’, and its combination of warmth, melancholy and lyrical beauty makes it one of his most intimate chamber compositions.
To hear it performed in the surroundings of Elgar’s birthplace adds another layer to the experience. The Firs remained an important emotional touchstone throughout his life, and this rare opportunity brings composer, place and music together in a particularly evocative way.
The concert opens with César Franck’s Violin Sonata in A Major, a work that moves effortlessly between tenderness, turbulence and playful conversation between violin and piano. Alex Postlethwaite and John Moore
For anyone with an interest in Elgar, chamber music or simply the chance to hear exceptional musicians performing in an extraordinary setting, this promises to be a memorable morning at the composer’s birthplace.
Tickets, please visit the event on the National Trust website.