Apotheosis of the Dance Feng Ning's Paganini

Could the beat of dance be taken any further than Beethoven did in his 7th symphony? Wagner thought not – hence his ‘apotheosis’ remark. This work broke new ground – after its first performance some even suggested that its composer was ‘ripe for the madhouse’. But Beethoven’s rhythmic force makes the seventh symphony a thrill to experience.

Andreas Delfs, known for bringing fascinating new combinations to his concerts, proposes a spicier kind of dance to team with Beethoven – the flamenco rhythms of the Fandango as set for orchestra by the American composer Roberto Sierra.

Our New Generation soloist, Ning Feng says, “As a child, I owned a hand-copied violin score. On its cover, the title: 24 Capriccios of Paganini. I thought then, perhaps one day I will be playing them on a stage. Then in middle school, I once bought a CD. With it came a photo of Paganini’s own violin, the Cannone. I thought then, perhaps one day I will be holding Cannone and hearing its sounds from my own hands.” As winner of the International Paganini Competition, Ning Feng has done both. In this concert, hear him perform Paganini’s melodious and sun-drenched first violin concerto.

“Paganini's Violin Concerto No.1 can acquire a stature all of its own when its challenges are met head on. Chinese violinist Feng Ning did exactly that. An extraordinary powerhouse of a performer with an unforgettably dazzling technique, he made this tortuously difficult work look like a stroll in the park.”The Australian