Features / Isles’ classical pianist to take centre stage
ISLAND Home is the appropriate theme of the first concert of Shetland Arts’ 2016-17 classical season, writes Alex Garrick-Wright, as Shetland pianist Neil Georgeson returns home to the isles for an intimate piano recital.
Neil is one of Shetland’s most talented musicians, having performed all over the world as a chamber musician and soloist, in addition to his work as a writer and theatrical director.
While he has lived in London for over a decade, Neil still feels very strongly about his connection to his homeland of Shetland: “It’s always brilliant to come home.”
Neil, whose last concert in Shetland was just over four years ago, will be treating the audience to a wide spectrum of music, from varying composers, nations and ages, all centred around the themes of homes and islands.
Shetland News caught up with Neil during Screenplay, where he has managed to fit in some rehearsal in between the films.
“Island Home is centred on the idea of ‘home’… with pieces about the opposite of ‘home’; exile, homesickness, etc. The reasons people leave home, and what keeps them away.
“I want to do things the audience will expect, and things they won’t expect. Some of the greatest composers, some favourites and some [the audience] won’t have heard before.
“I want to fulfill the audience’s expectations, but go a little outside the box.”
Neil was reluctant to discuss his set list too much, for fear of spoiling the surprise. Of what he would divulge, some of the music to look forward to includes Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata, based on the Shakespeare play about being marooned on an island far from home, and Debussy’s L’isle joyeuse, inspired by the Greek island of Cythera.
Other works include JS Bach’s Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother, a moving and sombre movement about the composer’s brother leaving for war, which Neil described as “unique in Bach’s output.”
In addition to this, Neil will be including pieces by Orkney-resident composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who passed away in March this year, and with whom Neil had worked in the past, as well as a thematically appropriate selection of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces (Homeward Bound and My Homeland among them).
Island Home is the first concert of Shetland Arts new classical season, and the first of three featuring Neil.
In December, Neil told Shetland News he will perform with “sensational” soprano Anna Dennis for a concert of French, German, Russian and English songs. Anna is a truly world-renowned soprano, having performed Bach at the Sydney Opera House and Haydn in Japan.
Neil said that when he initially asked Anna about this concert, she declined, due to being booked in Tokyo on that date.
“Oh, no, wait, that’s December 2017,” she realised, before agreeing to accompany Neil to Shetland this winter.
Following this, Neil will perform an intriguing ‘visually inspired’ recital in February, Pictures at an Exhibition, which will marry music and images in the Mareel auditorium.
Beyond Neil’s concerts, the rest of the classical season looks just as strong.
The fantastic Hebrides Ensemble are due to pay Shetland a visit, as are the quirky and innovative Mr McFall’s Chamber, whose range covers classical to contemporary to jazz. This classical feast will be concluded with Edinburgh-based baroque ensemble The Dunedin Consort, rounding off an impressive-looking season.
- Island Home is on in Mareel on Thursday 15 September. Tickets to the entire season are on sale already from Shetland Box Office, individually, as part of a “price package” or three concerts for £33.
Alex Garrick-Wright
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