NWC 412152 Stereo SACD Hybrid - released October 2005 Secret Notes, violin concerto No.2: - Marijn Simons (violin) - The Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra cond. by James MacMillan A Ti Te Toca, for two pianos and orchestra: - Anna & Ines Walachowski (piano) - The Aachen Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Marcus R. Bosch Symphony No.1: - The Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. by Martin Sieghart In my days at the New England Conservatory of Music many years ago, the ‘pre-conservatory’ department was always filled to the brim on weekends with an incredible mass of highly talented little children. Walking in the halls of the conservatory on weekends was for that very reason a highly depressing affair: about 25 of them were child prodigies, and they were able to perform pieces that I was not even close to conquering, and it inevitably had a dampening effect on my dreams of a career in performance. But where are they all now? The majority of such children just come and go like the wind and we never hear about them again. There are really only two major reasons for that: When you are 10 and can perform the Tchaikovsky piano Concerto #1, it is almost a circus show of wonderment within which the audience reacts, but when such a child, no longer a child at age 28 plays it, it is measured against all interpretations of the present and past combined. A harrowing thought indeed if just possessing the physical mastery of the piece was the primary objective of your youthful education. Most young performers for this reason never get past those first few years of existence performing on the podium. The ones that do, become legends. The other reason is that such gifted, intelligent children usually get bored easily. I vividly remember one girl in my class who gave up piano in order to become a mathematician at NASA at the age of 18. When I asked her why, she replied: ‘I can already play everything for my instrument, and there’s no challenge left for me…it’s boring!’ Nevertheless, there exists a third category in this revue: Marijn Simons. It says a lot about him that he survived to become an adult violinist who had something to say and express to his listeners. Also composing from a young age, his music, as well as his performances, have developed and grown with leaps and bounds and is reaching out to audiences in many countries. A double talent like that is unique, and in my view, I am very happy that he never got bored of performing and composing. After hearing the music on this disc, we can be sure he is going to continue doing so for many years to come. T.A. Diehl In August 2005 Marijn Simons was composer in residence at the Cabrillo Festival of Music in Santa Cruz, CA. Two of three works on this disc were performed during this concert: his second violin concerto 'Secret Notes', with Simons as soloist, and 'A' Ti Te Toca', his concerto for two pianos and orchestra. |
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