One of Britain’s leading violinists will take to the stage on campus this weekend as part of the University of Aberdeen’s Spring Concert Series.
Ruth Waterman, who will be accompanied by German pianist, Florian Uhlig, plays at Elphinstone Hall on Sunday, February 24 at 7.45pm.
Waterman is in demand in the US as well as throughout Europe, but perhaps most unusually in Bosnia, where she has been conducting the remarkable multi-ethnic orchestra, the Mostar Sinfonietta.
Her experiences in that war-torn country form the basis of her forthcoming book When Swan Lake Comes to Sarajevo(Canterbury Press, May 2008). She previously made a moving BBC Radio 4 documentary about her Bosnian work: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/mostar.shtml
Dr Paul Mealor, University Concerts Co-ordinator, said: "Ruth Waterman is one of the most distinguished violinists in Great Britain and we at the Department of Music are really pleased to be hosting her visit. The concert is sure to be exhilarating."
Sunday's programme by Waterman and Uhlig celebrates the respective anniversaries of Elgar (2007) and Vaughan Williams (2008).
Last year, Miss Waterman was invited to give a Gala Concert in celebration of Elgar's 150th Birthday at his birthplace in Malvern. "It was an extremely moving experience for me to play next door to the room in which he was born", she said.
Pianist Florian Uhlig is renowned for his wide-ranging repertoire from Bach to contemporary composers, and has won numerous international prizes.
Both artists will also be working with the Music Department's talented chamber groups and pianists on Monday, February 25 from 3-5pm. The MacRobert Building events (in Room 223 and the Lecture Theatre respectively) are open to all.
Earlier in the day, Ruth Waterman will give a unique lecture/performance on the musical ideas and inspiration behind Elgar's powerful Violin Sonata. Admission to Room 055 of the MacRobert Building for this event (12.45-2pm) is free.
Tickets for Sunday's (February 24) concert are available from Aberdeen Box Office at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com or 01224 641122.
For more information on both artists visit: http://www.ruthwaterman.com/