MOBILE RED HEDGEHOG - Flipbook - Page 32
Interview with Alkyona Quartet
and Magdalenna (Mena)
Visited Hungary?
Yes, I have stepfamily—originally from St Petersburg—
there now. They live in Máriakálnok, in the north west of
Hungary and really not far from Bratislava where
composer Dohnányi was born. —Jobine
Favourite Brahms?
Two Songs for Contralto, Viola and Piano, Op.91 — I had
it during my wedding ceremony! —Claire
Your most memorable gig?
My favourite performance I’ve ever given was the
London premier of Dobrinka Tabakova’s Patience of
Trees violin concerto. The audience was walking among
the musicians, and in the most intimate moment of the
piece a little girl came and sat on my music stand!
There was such a sense of togetherness, moving
through a work of art as a shared experience. —Emma
Best advice?
“It’s not about you - it’s about the music!” This has
always helped me, particularly when I’m feeling nervous
about a concert or audition. We spend so much time
perfecting our craft, worrying about the notes and
being hard on ourselves, but when we get to the
performance it’s important to remember that we are a
channel of the music. It’s not about how perfect we are,
or about how many mistakes we make, rather about
sharing the innermost emotions and story music with
your audience! —Mena
