Adrian Adlam is just like the protagonist of the eponymous piece, Ferdinand - a bull, who doesn't want to enter the bullring. The children's book behind it was written during the Spanish Civil War and was banned by Mussolini and Hitler because of its cleverly packaged criticism.
To stand on stage alone with the violin, is reminiscent of the ancient tradition of storytelling: the narrator, too, had only his own voice which he used to captivate people. Adrian Adlam possesses the exceptional gift of conveying a story on several different levels at once. He speaks and plays at the same time, thus bringing both adults and children under his spell.
The Artistic Director of the International Freden Music Festival once again displays his versatile virtuosity, as he does throughout the whole CD: Ridout stands alongside Nielsen, who stands alongside Bach. All lone heroes!
