Alina Ibragimova at the John Innes Centre

I made my way to the John Innes Centre at Colney, Norwich for the Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music concert on the afternoon of Sunday 21st October 2012 with Alina Ibragimova who entertained us with a solo violin performance of Johann Sebastian Bach Sonatas and Partitas. The programme consisted of Bach's Sonata No.1 in G minor BWV1001, Partita No.1 in B minor BWV1002, Sonata No.2 in A minor BWV1003 and Partita No.2 in D minor BWV1004.

Alina Ibragimova was born in Russia and entered the Gmessin State Musical College in Moscow at the age of five. She moved to London in 1996 when her father took up a post with the LSO. Alina went to the Yehudi Menuhin School and then attended the Guildhall and Royal College of Music studying with Christian Tetzlaff. She know has a full international career performing music from baroque to new commissions. In 2010 she won the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award.

Bach write his Sonatas and Partitas in 1720 of which there are three of each. They occupy an unchallenged position in the literature for solo violin. Alina Ibragimova put on a brilliant performance at a packed John Innes Centre on her 1775 Anselmo Bellosio violin. She proved what a talented Violinist she is and made this an afternoon to remember.

Dusk is falling at The John Innes Centre

On Sunday afternoon I made my way to The John Innes Centre at Colney for the latest Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music concert featuring the Royal String Quartet and Alessandro Taverna. It was a 5.30pm start at the Norwich Research Park's Conference Centre. This is a wonderful building for Classical Music with about 300 seats.

The Royal String Quartet are from Warsaw, Poland and consist of Izabella Szalaj-Zimak - violin, Elwira Przybylowska - violin, Marek Czech - viola and Michal Pepol - cello. Pianist Alessandro Taverna was born in Venice, Italy.

The programme for the concert was String Quartet No.1 Op.62 Already It Is Dusk - Gorecki, Valse in C sharp minor Op.64/2 - Chopin, Introduction and Rondo in E flat major Op.16 - Chopin, String Quartet No.2 Op.56 - Szymanowski and Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor Op.11 - Chopin.

The Royal String Quartet were a member of BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists from 2004-2006. Since 2004 they have run their own chamber music festival in Warsaw under the title of Kwartesencja. Alessandro Taverna has won many piano competitions and travels extensively appearing in most of the international concert halls.

This was a concert completely devoted to music from Poland. With the traditional and romantic world of Chopin to the 20th Century world of Szymanowski to Gorecki. Dusk is falling at The John Innes Centre but we're not scared of the wicked devils as we have put ourselves in the hands of The Royal String Quartet and Alessandro Taverna to entertain us.

A wonderful time was had by all as we were taken to the avant-garde world of Gorecki and the folk melodies of Szymanowski's music as well as beautiful works from Chopin. This was a high quality concert at The John Innes Centre with a brilliant line up and a splendid programme of music.