Thomas Demenga's PALINDROMANIA Receives Its UK Premiere

Swiss cellist and composer Thomas Demenga's Palindromania receives its UK premiere on Monday 15 October in Edinburgh before touring the rest of the UK. The concert, at The Balmoral Hotel, features Orion String Trio winners of the 21st Swiss Ambassador's Award, an annual accolade given to a talented Swiss-based classical musician or ensemble.

Demenga's work is characterised by a confrontation of different historical eras, styles of interpretation and composition. Palindromes are expressions, words and phrases which are identical when read both forwards and backwards. The composer Webern appreciated these linguistic tricks, which he even regarded as possible models for the structure of his music. He used symmetrical sequences, played parts of his compositions forwards and backwards.

Palindromania is dedicated to Webern, and also plays on history and memory. In this composition he used the notation of the Movement for String Trio, composed in 1925, Webern's first twelve-tone instrumental piece, employing Webern's minimal tone patterns consistently as musical palindromes. The middle section is composed freely, but contains elements of the original material with improvisations. The piece demands instrumental virtuosity, rhythmic stamina and above all great enthusiasm, all of which are evident in the Orion String Trio's performances.

Since 1997 award recipients tour the UK on a joint cultural / trade mission with the Swiss Ambassador to the UK. Supported by the Swiss Cultural Fund UK and the Swiss arts council Pro Helvetia, the musicians receive a monetary grant, as well as a platform to perform to audiences comprised of the political, diplomatic and business community as well as the general public. The tour kicks off on 15 October in Edinburgh then heads to Cardiff, London, Belfast and Manchester.

The aim of the award is to connect with local communities across the UK, with the concerts providing a setting to bring local political and business leaders into the Swiss cultural network. The winners of this year's award, Orion String Trio, are a group of highly talented musicians: South Korean violinist Soyoung Yoon, German violist Veit Hertenstein and British cellist Benjamin Gregor-Smith.

Orion String Trio play by heart and have found that without the physical barrier of music stands they achieve a greater connection and spontaneity which leads to a more intense and impassioned performance. The concert program is as diverse as the Trio, featuring composers from Hungary, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Concert dates and venues:

Monday 15 October at 7.30pm in Edinburgh at The Balmoral Hotel - Tickets from http://www.swiss-societies.co.uk/events/view/21st-swiss-ambassador-s-award-concert-edinburgh

Tuesday 16 October at 7.45pm in Cardiff at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Tickets £12 from https://www.rwcmd.ac.uk

Wednesday 17 October at 7.30pm in London at Wigmore Hall - Tickets £12 from https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/

Thursday 18 October at 7.30pm in Belfast at School of Music, Queen's University - Tickets £10 from https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/
Friday 19 October at 7.30pm in Manchester at Royal Northern College of Music - Tickets £12 from https://www.rncm.ac.uk/performance/