Andrew Litton to Lead London Phil in Premiere of Tavener's Violin Concerto Sept. 26 | Playbill

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Classic Arts News Andrew Litton to Lead London Phil in Premiere of Tavener's Violin Concerto Sept. 26 Andrew Litton will the lead the London Philharmonic Orchestra with soloist Nicola Benedetti in the world premiere of John Tavener's violin concerto Lalishri at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre on September 26.
A co-commission of the LPO and the Southbank Centre, Lalishri is inspired by the 14th-century Hindu saint and poet, Lalla Yogishwari. "Her poetry with its combination of intensity and simplicity made me think of the 'innocent intensity' of Nicola Benedetti's playing," explains Tavener in a program note on Chester Novello's website. "Indeed the solo violin represents the song of Lalla. When Lalla discovered ATMA or the true SELF (which is none other than God inside her) she danced naked throughout Kashmir. This spiritual nakedness manifests itself in bodily nakedness." The five-section piece moves from "dance, ecstatic trance to a musical expression of Bliss," adds the composer.

Litton, the 20-year-old Benedetti and the LPO recorded the concerto earlier this year; the album on Deutsche Grammophon is slated for release in the U.K. on September 24. (No U.S. release date has yet been scheduled.)

Also on the September 26 program are Elgar's Symphony No. 2 and Vaughan Williams's The Wasps.

 
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