The Razumovsky Academy at Wigmore Hall
A BMS Student's Perspective

On April the 28^th a small group from Brent Music Service went on a trip to The Wigmore Hall to see the Razumovsky Academy.

The Academy is led by Oleg Kogan and the young musicians come from all over the world. 

(Oleg Kogan, Leader of The Razumovsky Academy and world-renowned Russian cellist)

It was very exciting setting off by tube on a Tuesday evening with our umbrellas at the ready.

It was my first time at Wigmore Hall and I was very impressed.  It is an amazing Edwardian building, which is the perfect size to hear a chamber ensemble without the echo that you get in bigger halls.  Above the stage there is a beautiful mosaic of an angel, which has a really atmospheric effect on the musicians playing beneath.

The musicians themselves weren’t wearing the usual black, but their own choice of evening clothes.  The double bass player, Ha-Young Jung, really stood out in a Chinese-style red and gold princess dress and she played Rheingold Glier’s Intermezzo and Tarantella magnificently.

Tine Thing Helseth made her trumpet sound like the human voice in Suite Espagnole by de Falla.  Next came Anna-Liisa Bezrodny playing the Grieg C minor Violin Sonata.  It was a very passionate piece, which she played with great emotion. 

Olga Sitkovetsky, the Russian pianist, accompanied the soloists, who were then joined by the rest of the group for Mendelssohn’s Octet.  It was a great piece and I would love to have the opportunity to play it one day.

We were all very grateful to Ms Gunawardhana, Ms Stephens and all the BMS staff for taking us on such a wonderful trip.

By Freya Parks
BMS Student