Violinist Shunske Sato to Make Australian Debut with Brandenburg Orchestra, 9/7

From 7 September, Japanese/American violin star Shunske Sato will lead the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra into some rarely visited territory - historically informed Romantic music, performed on gut strings.

Together they'll perform music of the Romantic giants Mendelssohn (a symphony written at the age of 12), Grieg (Romantic music inspired by the Baroque) and an epic and rarely-heard violin concerto written by one of history's greatest and most revered violinists, Paganini.

Paganini's 4th Concerto premiered when he was 50, plagued by a multitude of ailments, and frail, but there is no frailty about this music.

"There is the tightrope-walking and having a left-hand like Elastigirl from The Incredibles, but beautiful, lyrical moments are just as plenty," says Shunske. "And the orchestration is exceptionally effective and well thought out. Despite its qualities, the piece is not played very often - high time to change that!"

"For all the research and interest in Romantic performance practice nowadays, I haven't yet encountered anyone who has gone down the historically informed Paganini road - it's worth looking into a genius who revolutionized the 19th century," says Shunske.

He is enthusiastic about his Australian debut: "This will be my very first time in Australia, and there's simply too much to look forward to. There is the famously flawless coffee, and the odd encounter with an exotic animal of course, and I have many dear and close Australian friends and am terribly excited to finally get to know their home country."

"I'm also incredibly honoured to work with such a world-class ensemble as the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra on my very first trip. Starting at the very top and going upwards!"

SATO & THE ROMANTICS

SYDNEY CITY RECITAL HALL
7, 9, 14, 16, 17 Sept at 7pm
17 Sept at 2pm

MELBOURNE MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE
10 Sept at 7pm
11 Sept at 5pm

AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA
SHUNSKE SATO guest director & period violin
PAUL DYER artistic director

MENDELSSOHN String Symphony No. 3 in E minor, MWV N 3
GREIG Holberg Suite Op. 40 Suite in the Olden Style
PAGANINI Concerto for Violin No. 4 in D minor