After months of planning, Grayshott Concerts staged its most ambitious concert ever on Saturday 1st November, despite pouring rain and below-normal temperatures.
Over 300 concert-goers packed into St Luke's Church to hear the 21-year-old virtuoso violinist, Chloe Hanslip, play Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' accompanied by one of the worlds most famous orchestras, the London Mozart Players. Ms Hanslip, winner or the prestigious 'Young Classical Brits Award', was born in Guildford and began playing the violin at age two. She electrified the audience with a faultless and breath-taking performance which captivated the delighted audience from beginning to end.
"Our phone hasn't stopped ringing with calls of praise from her admirers," said organiser, Vivien Harrison. "We've had some marvellous performers before at St Luke's, but this performance was just astonishing. Her commanding presence and her amazing control of every member of the orchestra was totally brilliant!" she said.
Grayshott florist, Janis Davey of sponsors Elizabeth Gordon, was equally impressed. "Everyone knows the 'Four Seasons' but Chloe brought new insight to the work with an absolutely exhilarating performance packed with energy. I've never seen anything like it!"
"We know how expensive it is to put on events of this superb quality" said sponsor Will Benson of Applegarth Farm. "That's why we're delighted, along with Huntington House and Cain Manor, to be able to support Grayshott Concerts in achieving such brilliance - right on our doorsteps! Grayshott has become a real centre of excellence for good music."
The programme began with a Mozart Divertimento, followed by Tchaikovsky's 'Serenade for Strings' directed by Leader of the Orchestra, David Juritz. Chloe Hanslip dominated the second half, the moment she stepped onto the stage and she played to perfection while directing the orchestra using her eyes and body movements to set the pace and mood.
The applause lasted for a number of minutes and led to a standing ovation and shouts of 'Encore!' Chloe then invited David Juritz to join her in a scintillating performance of the final movement of Bach's Double Violin Concerto. After the concert, Chloe stayed on to meet members of the audience and sign copies of her CDs.
"I can hardly believe it's all over." said co-organiser Peter Harrison. "It's taken months of negotiations to bring Chloe to perform in our little village - and she was simply stunning. Both Chloe and the Orchestra said what a wonderful audience there is in Grayshott - and they're absolutely right! Now we're getting ready for our next event 'It's Christmas!' with Excelsis and the Choristers of St Edmunds on Sunday 7th December at 6.30pm. We're standing by for another sell-out." he said. "You know what Grayshott's like." Tickets and more information can be obtained by ringing 01428 606666 or on www.grayshottconcerts.co.uk
