Australian violinist Jonathon Glonek will perform a program featuring Scheherazade’s Dreams, a work written especially for him by his late Ukrainian friend Mikhail Shukh, at Social Co House on Saturday, August 8. Photo: Supplied.
At the heart of the program is Scheherazade’s Dreams, a technically demanding work written especially for Glonek by his late friend, Ukrainian composer Mikhail Shukh. It will be performed alongside unaccompanied works by Bach, Paganini and Ysaÿe from 7pm.
Glonek met Shukh in 2002 while visiting Kyiv as a guest of the Kyiv Festival Symphony. Glonek performed as soloist in Brahms’ Violin Concerto, while a chamber symphony composed by Shukh featured on the same program.
Shukh’s work made an immediate impression. By the end of the tour, the two musicians had become friends, remaining in contact until Shukh’s death in 2019.
“Shukh himself was a very accomplished violinist and, having seen my work, decided to write a piece to put me through my paces,” Glonek said.
“It worked. It took several attempts over some years before I dared to play it.”
The result was Scheherazade’s Dreams, a series of variations built around themes from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral work Scheherazade.
The source material carried its own personal resonance for Glonek. Rimsky-Korsakov’s work, known for its prominent violin solos, was the first piece of classical music he remembers hearing.
“It was the very first classical work I heard as a child, and the themes have still stayed with me to this day,” he said.
For Glonek, Shukh’s composition offers more than virtuosity. He sees it as proof that contemporary classical music can remain inventive without severing its connection to audiences.
“There has been a real crisis in contemporary composition for some time as artists struggle to see where to head next compositionally as culture evolves,” he said.
“That’s especially difficult as technology such as AI encroaches on human creativity, and many modern works aren’t meeting the challenge, being as inaccessible to both performer and audience alike.
“Shukh is a breath of fresh air. He had strong classical discipline and a tight, polished focus on string instruments but, best of all, you could see a real sense of repose in the audience as they respond to his music. A winning formula.”
Glonek has placed Scheherazade’s Dreams beside works regarded as part of the core solo violin repertoire. The program will also feature music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Niccolò Paganini and Eugène Ysaÿe, composers whose works demand technical precision and expressive range.
“Each of these works is part of the violinist’s core repertoire and musical bible,” Glonek said.
“With its breakneck virtuosic tempi and deeply lyrical qualities, I believe Shukh’s work has earned its place in such company and will become a popular mainstay of the repertoire.”
The Moree concert forms part of Glonek’s ongoing project to bring classical musicians and significant works to rural and regional audiences.
“Classical music is a great gift to everyone, but there are not that many opportunities to hear it in the bush, or indeed our suburbs,” he said.
Arts North West Executive Director Lauren Mackley said supporting performances in regional communities was central to the organisation’s work.
“Regional audiences deserve access to exceptional live performances, and we’re delighted to support Jonathon Glonek’s visit to Moree,” Ms Mackley said.
“Bringing internationally recognised artists to our communities enriches our cultural life, inspires local musicians and demonstrates that world-class arts experiences can happen right here in regional NSW.”
The concert will begin at 7pm on Saturday, August 8, at Social Co House, 167–169 Balo Street, Moree.
Tickets are $40 for adults, while admission is free for people under 18. Booking fees apply. Bookings can be made through TryBooking.
For more information, contact Bendoc Philharmonic on 0498 720 512 or visit the Arts North West website.
