Julia Fischer on taking part in the Orchestra's 80th Anniversary celebration
Credit: Suxiao Yang
Joining us to perform in Beethoven's Triple Concerto this Wednesday 23 September at the Royal Albert Hall is one of the world's leading violinists, Julia Fischer. Winner of the first prize at the international Yehudi Menuhin Competition in 1995, she has since performed with the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic orchestras and many more.
Read her reflections on her upcoming performance with the Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko.
What does it mean to you to play for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's 80th anniversary?
It is a great honour for me to be invited to celebrate this occasion with the RPO.
How long have you known the Orchestra and Vasily? Do you have any stand-out memories performing together?
I have known the RPO for almost all of my professional life – my first encounter with them was in 2001 on a tour in Germany with Schumann's Violin Concerto.
Vasily, I met for the first time at the Gramophone Awards in 2007. Since 2010 we have performed many concerts together, with a lot of different repertoire and many different orchestras. I have to say that any concert with Vasily is a stand-out memory.
How would you describe Beethoven's Triple Concerto to someone who isn't familiar it?
It belongs to the happy works by Beethoven, with a lot of fun for the players and excitement for the listener. I personally enjoy playing this concerto a lot and I think it is a great choice for this celebration.
When did you first discover this piece?
I played it for the first time in 1998 when I was 15, with my brother at the piano and Johannes Moser at the cello.
Are you excited to share the stage with Pablo Ferrández and Jan Lisiecki?
Of course I am. I know Jan quite well from recital tours but this will be my first time meeting Pablo.
If you were programming your dream orchestral concert, what music would you include?
Definitely the Seventh Symphony by Shostakovich. As for a violin concerto, I would still go with Beethoven or Brahms.
You're invited to our 80th Anniversary celebration
Join us at the Royal Albert Hall with Vasily Petrenko, Julia Fischer, Pablo Ferrández and Jan Lisiecki this September.
Read more
Explore the stories behind the music
