When a Philharmonia viola broke his collarbone…

In 2009 Samuel Burstin, a viola player in the Phiharmonia, broke his collarbone moments before the orchestra was due to record Re:Rite with Esa-Pekka Salonen in Watford.

Out for three months, Samuel was helped by a grant from the Musicians Benevolent Fund and founded his own orchestra, the Paradisal Players.

This Sunday January 10, at St Bartholomew’s Church in Sydenham, they will be raising money for Help Musicians UK, formerly the Musicians Benevolent Fund, with four Philharmonia players as soloists and one as composer.

Double bassist Adam Wynter will play Bottesini’s A minor concerto. The world premiere of ‘Labyrinth’, a concerto by Philharmonia cellist Richard Birchall will be given by Principal Cellist Timothy Walden. Violinist Nathaniel Anderson-Frank will be joined by Samuel Burstin (swapping baton for bow) to play Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, K. 364. And the programme will end with Mahler’s Adagietto from his Symphony No. 5, featuring former Philharmonia Principal Harpist Lucy Wakeford.

Worthy of your support. Details here.