New masterpieces
Five pieces written for Josefowicz
Steven Mackey Beautiful Passing
This 2008 concerto was written in the aftermath of the death of the American composer’s mother. The violin offers ‘serenity, poise and presence of mind,’ Mackey told The Washington Post. ‘The orchestra represents the clangor of life.’
Colin Matthews Violin Concerto
Josefowicz toured this concerto around Europe after its Birmingham premiere in 2009. The critics admired it, noting the violin was like ‘an airy spirit’ in the first movement, while the second movement was
‘an eloquent rhapsody’.
Esa-pekka Salonen Violin Concerto
Composer and violinist worked closely together on this 2009 piece, which, Salonen says covers everything ‘from the virtuosic and flashy to the aggressive and brutal, from the meditative and static to the nostalgic and autumnal.’
Luca Francesconi’s Duende – The Dark Notes
‘Duende’ is a Spanish word closely associated with flamenco that suggests an inner fire and dark energy. The Italian composer spotted this quality in Josefowicz, and decided to write a concerto (premiered in 2014) to showcase it.
John Adams Scheherazade 2
This 2015 dramatic symphony turns the spotlight on oppressed, abused and violated women, a modern-day counterpart to Rimskykorsakov’s Scheherazade. Here the violin is the protagonist in a series of scenes, ending with ‘escape, flight and sanctuary’.