THE PEASANT GIRL
Viktoria Mullova, The Matthew Barley Ensemble
Viktoria Mullova violin, Matthew Barley cello, Paul Clarvis percussion, Julian Joseph piano, Sam Walton percussion
Russian violonist Viktoria Mullova, famous for her virtuoso interpretations of the core classical repertory, shows us a different side of her artistic persona at this year’s Holland Festival. In collaboration with her husband the cellist Matthew Barley, two percussionists and jazz pianist Julian Joseph, she presents an unorthodox programme with gypsy music, duets for violin and cello by Bartók, an ode to Django Reinhardt by jazz composer John Lewis and a number of compositions by fusion band Weather Report, one of which has the title The Peasant. It’s an eclectic programme held together by the emotional weight of the various pieces: Mullova’s love for music comes from the heart and speaks to the heart.