Last week, Conor Molony met Elena Abad – winner of Trinity Laban’s Gold Medal award, and soloist playing the Brahms violin concerto in our concert on 29th February. Continue reading to find out more about Elena, her recent foray into video recordings, and her plans for the future.
You joined us a few years ago playing the Mendelssohn violin concerto at our Mendel-thon day (an all day marathon exploring the great composer’s music). Do you enjoy days like that - working with the orchestra members but without a big audience?
I think these kind of projects are great. The idea of having a whole day dedicated to playing great music - just having fun under no big pressure - is fantastic. For me, it was a really great experience to run through the Mendelssohn Concerto. I had played it before in concerts with other orchestras, but doing it in such a relaxed setting was definitely very fun and rewarding for me.
You are one of several wonderful young London based violinists - who have you been inspired by, and who have you enjoyed performing with over the past few years?
I'd like to think of myself more as a musician or an artist as well as a performer, so I'd say I've been inspired by all sort of people that specialise in all sort of different fields, but if I had to think of other violinists: Jascha Heifetz, Janine Jansen or Itzak Perlman are some of my idols. Thinking of other artists in general: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Freddie Mercury, Pink Floyd, Picasso and a lot of anonymous ‘You-Tubers’ ... I mean, the list would be infinite!
The violin bow always seems to play second to the wonderful violin, how influential is your bow in helping you create such a wonderful sound?
Very influential. A good bow is almost as important as a good violin. I don't precisely have the greatest equipment, but I'd always definitely look for a good balance between the instrument and the bow. The moment I try a new bow or someone else's it's usually a big change that requires me to adapt to a different feel, and to different ways in which I create colours and textures in the sound. Some bows are more difficult than others in all these aspects.
You have won several accolades in the past 2 years for both your composition arrangement and performance of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody: for solo violin’. The expression ‘incredible rhapsodic playing’ came to mind and I thought a certain Signor Paganini would be in ecstasy. … I also loved watching your recording of the Kriesler Recitativo and Scherzo with its wonderfully hypnotic long phrases. With both of the above, what do you try bring to the audience in video recording?
Making videos was something I started doing recently as a hobby that turned to be very useful for my music career. I built my own home 'recording studio' and started experimenting with lights, backgrounds, video editing programs, etc.
I've probably spent hundreds of hours watching YouTube tutorials on video editing and sound mixing. I don't have a very professional equipment, so sometimes I had to improvise and use my imagination to create the effects I wanted. For example, in my Bohemian Rhapsody video, the very beginning was made with a toy lantern stuck to the ceiling with cello tape. Every time I had to switch it on and off I had to use a ladder to reach it and I had to change the batteries every 20 mins because the light kept losing intensity!
What does 2020 bring for you and where in UK might we next hear you performing?
There will be new videos and arrangements coming up on my YouTube channel. And I perform a lot around London with different artists. Future concert dates will appear on my Facebook page.
Many thanks Elena and we look forward to performing with you on 29th February. Conor.
Elena will be playing the Brahms violin concerto in our annual concert in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The superb programme combines wonderful music with an interval of excellent canapés and wine which are included in the price of the ticket. This promises to be a fantastic concert raising money for an excellent cause. Tickets are £25 plus booking fee.