Conductor Jonathan Bloxham will lead the Radio Hall Orchestra in concert on Wednesday, the 6^th of November, at the Radio Hall. The event will include works by Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Mister Jonathan Bloxham, how would you describe your relationship with the Radio Hall Orchestra and how did the first rehearsal unfold?

It's wonderful to be back in Bucharest for this concert with the Radio Hall Orchestra, an ensemble which I know very well. The members of the orchestra also know me because we've worked together several times over the last few years, and this reunion is a real pleasure for me. Because when you collaborate with a new orchestra, inevitably the first rehearsal will be one in which the ensemble will try to get to know the conductor and vice versa. You also can't know how the collaboration will go. But in this case, I know the Radio Hall Orchestra very well, which means that we can work out the details from the very beginning. And I feel we trust each other, which is a very nice thing!

How did you and pianist Hyunk-Ki Joo put together the performance of Maurice Ravel's Concerto in G for piano and orchestra?

This is the first time we have played together, although we have known each other for a long time. He is the best friend of my former cello teacher and we even studied at the same school, but of course a few years apart. So, I'm glad we have the opportunity to work together for the first time, right here in Bucharest. We have just rehearsed the Ravel Concerto together and I can say that it feels very natural, there were beautiful musical moments! Each movement has a strong character, for example the first part is based on a Basque folk song and the last one is inspired by Stravinsky's music. Also, I think we understand each other's musical intentions very well.

How did you choose Wednesday's concert program?

I very much enjoy conducting Beethoven's music when I reunite with the Radio Hall Orchestra, and when I was thinking about the program for this concert, I thought Beethoven's Beethoven Symphony No. 7 was a very appropriate choice. Hyunk-Ki wanted to play Ravel's Concerto in G, an idea that I liked very much, and for the opening piece of the concert I chose a more meditative piece instead of a work that is very familiar to the public, Fauré's Pavane, a piece that is more meditative. I see it as an invitation to get into the concert atmosphere after a busy day at work, like a breath of fresh air, a moment of relaxation at the beginning of a concert. So, I think this program will be a pleasant journey for the audience.