Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Joshua Bell direction, violin
Robert Schumann: Carnaval op. 9 (arr. Maurice Ravel)
Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto
Robert Schumann: Symphonie N° 2
Moien!
This is how people say “Morning!” in Luxembourgish. This means that if you are coming to Luxembourg, at least you should learn how to greet people in their own language.
But Luxembourg is a crossroad of people, races, cultures and languages. This also means that you will never be alone. And, believe me, this is absolutely true.
Let me tell you something about myself. I’m Italian, as you all know, but I have been living in Luxembourg since December 29th, 2022 (I’ve been a Luxembourg resident since December 30th).
I came here because I realized that it was time for me to change my life. But before that, I had the chance of visiting this country many times, either for my job or – most of the times – to follow my passion: music.
The Philarmonie has always been a place where I have been welcomed and where I have seen incredible shows and amazing artists performing at the Grand Auditorium.
This time was no different.
Anyone who knows me well also knows that, among the artists I love, the Dave Matthews Band (and Dave Matthews himself) has a special place in my heart.
Dave Matthews is my link to Joshua Bell. In fact, in 2016 Dave Matthews and Joshua Bell brought Cuba to Lincoln Center, performing together after having been part of a delegation of artists who traveled to Cuba in April of the same year. It was a great night of cultural exchange and great music, with musicians, including the Chamber Orchestra of Havana coming directly from Cuba. Joshua Bell: Seasons of Cuba (live from Lincoln Center) was also nominated as “Outstanding music direction” for an Emmy Award in 2017.
As you can imagine, having Joshua Bell performing here in Luxembourg was an unmissable opportunity for me.
Joshua Bell is an artist with a forty-year career behind him, six Grammy nominations and a victory and is one of the most important violinists of our time. Over the years, he has performed with the world’s greatest orchestras, as a solo artist and also as the artistic director of the Academy St. Martin in the Fields.
In the season 2022/2023 he has been touring South America and Europe as well in the United States.
Joshua Bell comes to the Philarmonie after his latest appearance during the season 2016/2017. He is here with his orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
As of today, the Academy St Martin in the Fields is considered one of the most prestigious and one of the most important chamber orchestras, especially for their brilliant and blooming interpretations of the classical repertoire.
Seeing Joshua Bell playing and directing at the same time is a real pleasure and, even if the concert does not last too long, at the end it is the way he plays his beautiful instrument – the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin – and the way he interacts with “his” orchestra which leave the audience with a peaceful feeling at the end of the concert.
This has been the first concert since I became a Luxembourg resident and I am sure it is one of many more to come.
All pictures courtesy of Philarmonie Luxembourg/Sébastien Grébille
