Last Sunday, March 12, three violinists from the Professional Program at ZBSM made an astonishing debut at the ‘Young Talents of the Zakhar Bron School of Music’ concert, performing with ‘The Soloists of Neuchâtel’ chamber orchestra under the baton of Maestro Sergey Ostrovsky. The concert took place at the renowned Stadtcasino Basel, one of Switzerland’s finest concert halls, and played to a full house.
Nikita Koller opened the concert with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Melody, performing this lyrical miniature with heartfelt expression and a beautifully warm tone. His impeccable phrasing and emotional sensitivity drew the audience in from the very first note, creating an atmosphere of quiet intensity and poetic elegance. It was a deeply moving interpretation that showcased both his musicality and refined technique, setting a brilliant tone for the matinée.
Alexandra Taub continued the program with Camille Saint-Saëns’ stunning Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. She delivered the lyrical introduction with great warmth and sensitivity, then dazzled with the virtuosic brilliance of the rondo section. Her elegant phrasing, flawless technique, and dynamic contrasts highlighted both the romantic charm and the fiery Spanish flair of the piece, earning enthusiastic applause.
Sophie Branson concluded the concert with Tchaikovsky’s Valse-Scherzo, bringing both sparkle and grace to this virtuosic showpiece. She impressed with her agile technique, clarity in rapid passages, and natural sense of phrasing, all delivered with poise and charm. Her performance was a true testament to her musical maturity and technical finesse.
All three young violinists study in the class of Liana Tretiakova, the school’s founder and lead violin teacher. The concert preparation took several months and included regular violin lessons at the school, a rehearsal in Neuchâtel, and a final rehearsal on stage at the renowned Stadtcasino Basel. As is tradition, the violin teacher accompanied the students throughout the process, providing guidance and support both during rehearsals and at the concert itself.
In conclusion, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Maestro Sergey Ostrovsky — one of the leading violinists of our time, conductor and artistic director of The Soloists of Neuchâtel chamber orchestra, Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at the Haute École de Musique de Genève, and a longstanding friend of our school.
Maestro Ostrovsky has supported the Zakhar Bron School of Music since its founding and has always shown genuine warmth toward our students and teachers. Every year, he leads violin masterclasses at our school, which are highly anticipated by our students. This was not the first time our young musicians performed together with his outstanding orchestra, and we are always grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with him.
Photo & video credit: Shlomo Ashkenazi
Tags: Alexandra Taub, Concerts in Switzerland, Liana Tretiakova, Nikita Koller, Sergei Ostrovsky, Soloists from Neuchâtel, Sophie Branson
Categories: Concerts with Orchestra
