• This morning, the European Union Youth Orchestra will perform Chopin and Tchaikovsky at the Proms (Radio 3 and iPlayer), its first UK appearance since the 2016 EU referendum result made it inevitable that the orchestra would move its headquarters to Italy from London, where it had operated since its inception 40 years ago. Our cultural impoverishment has begun, even before Brexit has actually happened.
First to go was the European Union Baroque Orchestra, now based in Antwerp, not Oxfordshire, and a question mark hangs over the future of the annual Europe Day concert at St John’s Smith Square, London, an event that once featured both these orchestras. It’s all rather depressing. However, there’s a chance to hear more talent from across Europe today, competing at the Edinburgh festival in the semi-finals of the Eurovision Young Musicians 2018 competition (throughout the day live on Radio 3 and on iPlayer). Previous winners have included Natalie Clein and Julia Fischer, which gives you some idea of the exceptional quality to expect.
• Louis Spohr (1784-1859), considered one of the leading violinists and composers of his day, was just too talented for his own good. His 1816 violin duets failed to sell because they were excessively virtuosic. His publisher pleaded with him to write more, but “for goodness’ sake, don’t make them so hideously difficult”. The result was his Op 67 set – three duets that still stretch the performers but charm and delight in their ingenuity. Jameson Cooper and James Dickenson combine on a new recording on the Naxos label, their playing dexterous, witty and nicely judged, the two instruments frequently required to swap roles in a delightfully playful interchange.
• Get on to the Radio 3 iPlayer and find the Academy of Ancient Music’s concert from the Edinburgh festival, featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti and harpsichordist and director Richard Egarr, who both excel in Vivaldi and Telemann. It’ll knock your socks off.
