Every time I visit the Turner Sims, I make a mental note to find another concert to attend as soon as possible in order to return. During the London Mozart Players’ Mozart Birthday Concert I couldn’t help but think about how lucky we are to have this wonderful space just a bus journey away, where world class musicians perform at a level you’d be lucky to catch a ticket to in London.
This was the first Sunday afternoon concert I’d attended at the Turner Sims, and it was a wonderfully refreshing schedule. Two swift halves of 40 minutes, and then back out into the sunshine. Now that the days are getting longer, I believe that a visit to the Turner Sims for a daytime performance is the perfect Sunday activity.
The London Mozart Players had a difficult decision to make: what do you play during a birthday celebration of one of the world’s most celebrated and prolific composers? They made a brilliant choice to play four pieces created by Mozart in his childhood and teenage years, pieces which emphasise what a startling talent he truly was.
This was a great hook and in the first half we were gently and amusingly guided through the repertoire by first violinist Ruth Rogers. Rogers was an incredibly personable lead, pointing out the 10 years of improvement between the first and second composition, the first of which was written when Mozart was just 8 years old. This guidance on what to listen out for was fabulous, and extremely helpful for classical music novices like myself, giving us something to focus on. I would have liked similar guidance in the second half. In her playing, Rogers also managed to get across the playfulness of these symphonies and concertos, bobbing and turning to engage with her fellow players and the audience.
With classical music concerts, I am often worried that my ADHD brain will spend the entire time screaming for more stimulation, and I enter the concert hall tense that I am going to be bored. But whenever I go, these compositions actually scratch a mental itch, and I am always surprised at how quickly the time flew. In classical music, a story is being told - even if my brain is only picking that development up subconsciously. These afternoon concerts at the Turner Sims are a perfect introduction to classical music for anyone who is hesitant about the art form.
Verity Babbs is the host of Voice FM's 'Arts & Culture Show' on Wednesdays at 2PM
www.veritybabbs.com
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