Presto Presents…, Presto Presents...Kerson Leong's Bruch and Britten

Although July and August are typically fairly quiet months in terms of new releases, our series of in-store events celebrating recent recordings has continued apace throughout the summer. Our most recent guest was Canadian violinist Kerson Leong, who visited to toast his new album of concertos by Britten and Bruch, released on Alpha at the end of May and praised on both sides of the Atlantic: Fanfare noted that Leong 'commands a strong technique...but he also possesses the personal security to avoid vain virtuosity and empty showmanship for their own sake' , whilst The Sunday Times observed that 'Bruch’s First Violin Concerto is a banker that is hard to go wrong with, although it’s a struggle to think of a lovelier and more romanticised reading of the slow movement'.

Kerson was joined by pianist Lynn Arnold for a short recital of works by both composers, including Bruch's In Memoriam (which features on the album in its original orchestral version), and excerpts from Britten's Suite Op. 6 for Violin and Piano. Afterwards he sat down to chat with me and our audience about growing up in 'a household full of music', why he sees the Bruch concerto as 'musical comfort-food', and his 'shock' upon his first encounter with the Britten - 'a piece that never leaves you once it latches on'...

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The Presto Presents calendar for the autumn includes visits from cellist Bruno Philippe and pianist Tanguy de Williencourt, violinist Madeleine Mitchell, Brodsky Quartet violist Paul Cassidy, and baritone/director Thomas Guthrie & Barokksolistene (who'll be bringing their innovative new production of Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin to us on Friday 24th November). For those of you who live locally, do keep an eye on our events page for details of how to book free tickets once full details are announced - and readers further afield can sign up to our YouTube channel here.