The great violinist Tasmin Little will play a
solo recital at Swaledale Festival this year as part of her long-running Naked Violin project. She will also conduct a
masterclass for local young string players as part of the Festival’s Young Artists Platform. We are particularly pleased to welcome Tasmin to the Festival again because she has just announced her impending retirement from performance:
“After more than thirty years on the concert platform giving something approaching two thousand performances, I have, after a great deal of thought, decided to hang up my concert gowns in the summer of 2020”, she wrote in a statement distributed by her management.
“My performing career has taken me to every continent of the globe, to most of the major concert halls with a wondrous array of international orchestras and incredible conductors. For three decades, I have enjoyed very special partnerships with Piers Lane, Martin Roscoe and John Lenehan. I have given hundreds of presentations in schools and have had opportunities for 10 years to visit numerous small communities far and wide with my Naked Violin project, forming connections that have often been exceptionally touching and truly special.
“I have made over forty commercial recordings, appeared on a huge quantity of television programmes, made documentaries for TV and radio, presented radio programmes, been the Artistic Director of two festivals, written countless articles for magazines and newspapers, and given something in the region of a thousand interviews across all forms of media. And, I have enjoyed every moment of it and treasured all the opportunities that a life in music has given to me. I’ve decided it’s time to find a little more space in my life for some of my many other interests!”
Tasmin Little first came to international attention with her critically-acclaimed debut album of Bruch and Dvořák concertos in 1990, followed by her BBC Proms performance of the rarely-played Janáček concerto - its Proms premiere. She has since appeared at the Proms twenty times and has recorded almost fifty albums. Her career as a soloist has included ninety-nine performances of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto alone.
“There are a great deal of things I plan to do and explore, both musical and non-musical,’ Little’s statement continues.
“Some of these in musical spheres include: developing my continuing presence within the media, via radio, writing, presenting and television, persisting with and progressing my involvement with the campaign for music education to remain a vital component of the national curriculum, maintaining my wonderful association with the Royal Academy of Music with public masterclasses, and finding some time to enjoy international jury work in music competitions (at least I’ll be able to sit down for some of these!).
‘In the immediate future, I will be spending the next 18 months enjoying the remaining engagements that I have scheduled in my diary and, should any of you feel you wish a final “curtain call” from me before summer 2020, please do feel free to be in touch with my manager and we will try our best to make time in the schedule for some additional concerts.
“In bowing out (forgive the pun), I wish to thank each and every one of you who has played a part in my career, whether you have given me concert engagements, other professional opportunities, been a loyal member of my audience, or simply been there to encourage me during more challenging times. All this has never been taken for granted and has been the main reason I have continued my career for so many years.
“I have loved every moment, but now it is time for me to embrace a new perspective and relish new challenges and opportunities.”
Tasmin Little’s
Naked Violin recital will take place in Grinton Church at 19:30 on Friday 31 May. Tickets can also be bought for her
Masterclass which takes place at 11:00 on Saturday 1 June in St. Michael’s Church in Spennithorne.