Unearthed 1935 Imogen Holst Concerto to Premiere

On Nov. 24 violinist Midori Komachi will premiere Imogen Holst’s Violin Concerto, a work composed in 1935 that languished in the archive at Britten Pears Arts in Aldeburgh until she discovered the manuscript and saw to its publication. Describing the discovery as “one of the most thrilling moments in my career,” Komachi added, “There is a comforting sense of familiarity in her music…. Each note… seems to radiate [Holst’s] energy, musicality, and personality.”

Holst, who died in 1984 at the age of 77, was the only daughter of composer Gustav Holst and worked closely with Benjamin Britten for many years, first as a personal assistant and then as co-artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival. As a composer, arranger, conductor, educator, organizer and dancer, she played a significant role in the mid-20^th-century musical life of the U.K.

Drawing its inspiration from Irish folk melodies, says Komachi, the concerto’s instrumentation and the harmony underlying the tunes reminds her of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Concerto Accademico. “Unlike a traditional violin concerto that highlights virtuosity,” she continues, “this piece draws listeners into a shared experience of cultural roots, creating a universally relatable connection…. You will often hear a memorable, lyrical tune, supported by interesting harmonies.”

The premiere performance on Nov. 24, at St Andrew’s Church, Holborn, London, will feature the Elgar Sinfonia conducted by Adrian Brown, who had been a personal acquaintance of Holst.