Interview with violinist Sophia Jaffé
When reading about your numerous successes in various competitions I wonder to know what role have these experiences played in your professional life?
The chance of taking part in violin competitions has been quite useful for many aspects in my musical development. Through preparing and playing programs containing up to 14 different pieces, for example in the Queen Elisabeth competition alone, I learned to be quick in learning new things and more thorough in my practicing. Also it was a wonderful challenge to concentrate amongst difficult situations, on what music actually means to me and to find my own way with it into a professional life.
There have been many outstanding artists in your artistic career and you are going to work with one of such personalities in Manchester next week. Could you reveal more about this project?
The orchestra management of the Hallé Orchestra came to propose this project to me. I was immediately struck by the intensity and energetic character of John Casken‘ violin concerto. I generally find it very important to discover new music. As for the conductor Markus Stenz I will meet him for the first time.
Your first CD up to now presented the musik by Beethoven, Bach, Ysaÿe and Suk (which is a pleasure for us, Czech people) – why exactly this dramaturgy, why exactly these names?
Actually the basic idea for the CD program 2009 was to have pieces of different style and character of the violin repertoire. The Suk pieces and the 10th Beethoven sonata have accompanied Björn Lehmann and me through the years of playing together. The pieces by Suk are very colourful character pieces and real little musical treasures. The 10th Beethoven sonata is a grand piece, more of a calm, contemplative and almost Schubertian expression, and the two solosonatas represent different but still linked episodes of violin solo repertoire.
You have already mentioned your colleague, pianist Björn Lehmann with whom we can see you in December this year in Prague. On the 4th there will be a recital of both of you in the Suk Hall. Sophia, your performances in the Czech Republic are not seldom at all – is it a coincidence or your own choice and will?
I appreciate it very much to come to a country like Czech Republic for concerts. It was rather late, when I came first came to Prague and its beauty and people‘s warmth are always worth a visit.
With the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra you have co-operated on various occasions as well. Last time you met at the Municipal House in Shostakovich´s 1st violin concerto at the beginning of this year. Do you feel any special relation to this orchestra?
It is always a big pleasure to come back to the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. We have played many concerts together in the past years, know each other musically quite well and it is a nice feeling to see familiar faces, when we play.
My last question concerns your pedagogical activities. You must have a liking for this work when you devote an essential part of your time and energy to it. What is for you so appealing on handing over your experiences to some students?
To be in touch with young musicians, to find ways to support them in their musical-technical development is really a great joy. The Hochschule in Frankfurt am Main altogether is a place, where many interesting people work. Next to music, one can study dancing and acting there, too, and to be part of such a system, which is devoted to these enriching subjects of European culture and art, is a privilege.
