Ruth Rogers tells us about the musical dialogue between Violin and Oboe in Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor, as well as the energy of Baroque music.
We spoke to Ruth ahead of LMP Play Bach’s Brandenburgs on 27 November at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Are there any elements you particularly enjoy about performing music from the Baroque period?
I love the energy and vitality of Baroque music. It was written so long ago and yet it still seems so fresh! I have been particularly inspired by recordings of Europe Gallante and Fabio Biondi – they make Baroque music sound so wildly energetic. I think Baroque music works particularly well in the resonant acoustic of St Martin-in-the-Fields
We all steer the ship together and I find that teamwork very fulfilling.
How do you find the experience of directing the orchestra while also being a soloist?
I absolutely love directing the orchestra as a soloist because the LMP players become acutely alert and responsive. When there is no conductor it feels more like chamber music and every player takes responsibility for what is happening. We all steer the ship together and I find that teamwork very fulfilling.
Do you have any favourite moments in tonight’s programme?
They are all amazing pieces. I think the solo violin part in Brandenberg 4 is very virtuosic so I am excited to play that but I also love the sound world of the instrumentation in Brandenberg 1 – two horns, three oboes, one bassoon, one solo violin plus strings – which is totally different to all the other Brandenberg concertos.
How does the role of a soloist in Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos differ from that in his Concerto for Violin and Oboe?
I am a huge fan of Olivier Stankiewicz as I think he is such an incredible musician so I am really excited to perform this work with him. The solo violin and solo oboe are very much equals and there is lots of dialogue between them. I suppose we are more prominent as soloists in this piece than in the Brandenbergs where we are part of the overall texture. This is our chance to really have some fun as a duo! I love playing concertos where I am not the only soloist- it feels less lonely and more like playing chamber music which is what I truly love doing.
This is our chance to really have some fun as a duo! I love playing concertos where I am not the only soloist- it feels less lonely and more like playing chamber music which is what I truly love doing.
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