A) The Stradivari Season
B) Celebrity Concerts
C) Concert Reviews
A) The Stradivari Season
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The Stradivari Season was founded by James Grech in 2002. It was named after the legendary violin maker Antonio Stradivari, whose violins are truly magical
The birth of the Stradivari season came following the foundation of the Stradivari Studio – a specialized violin School. In order to motivate students, James started to organize concerts, where he provided opportunities to the students to attend performances of accomplished artists and world renowned performers. “When the student is exposed to such events, and presented with musical opportunities their will is motivated.” The first concerts were thus presented by the Stradivari Studio, and included The Beethoven and Brahms, Piano Trios, A piano and Violin Recital by James Grech and Alexei Galea, A Violin Recital by James Grech, and Music from the Soul.
In organizing these concerts James saw the need of revitalizing the local music scene, and wanted to go beyond just presenting a concert. He wanted to give audiences an experience to remember. Music had become for James a vehicle through which he could transport the listener to another realm. The aim of the Stradivari Season was to bring Classical Music to new heights and Dimensions. The Magic Violin was the first concert of this kind “a colourful and rich palette of various performers and artistic idioms.” This set the standard for the 50 or so concerts to follow. The Stradivari Season was also known as the 5 star concert series, such was the rich blend of setting, theme, light, music and performance
The Stradivari Season set the theatre or concert venue as the stage where both audience and performer enter into a unity of spirit thus becoming active participants in the spirit of performance
B) Celebrity Concerts
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The celebrity concerts were a series of 3 classical concerts, held in Brisbane in July 2005, in the last few months of James’ life. James was the organizer, artistic and marketing director and main performer in all of these concerts. The concerts gave James a purpose in the last few months of his life. Through them he wanted “to show all those out there who are suffering that in moments of great weakness we can find STRENGTH”
The first of the celebrity concerts was held in the majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane Australia on 23rd July 2005. This venue was chosen by James as a place that complemented the music and suited the theme of thanksgiving to God for walking with us through the tough moments in life. The whole of this concerts is now available on DVD, as THE LAST OF THE STRADIVARI SEASON CONCERTS
The second and 3rd concerts were held at The Old Museum, Brisbane Australia on the 24th and 30th July 2005. Great artists, superb musicianship, and a noble effort, in very dire circumstances combine to make these concerts indeed memorable. The last concert on the 30th July had to be James’ last performance. It is now available on DVD as THE LAST MAGICAL MOMENTS.
All 3 concerts featured artists of international acclaim, including Eleonora Bekova, pianist of the famous Bekova trio, Marina Poplavskaya, a Russian soprano, said to have “a voice not heard since Callas”, and Marius Stravinsky, direct descendant of the legendary composer Igor Stravinsky. The orchestra was formed by outstanding Queensland musicians lead by Warwick Adeney
The concerts were an inspiration to many and offered solace and hope to many cancer patients.
C) Concert Reviews
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- There were works by Grieg, Beethoven and Ravel in the recital given by Marius Stravinsky, a young violinist accompanied by pianist Eleonora Bekova....For good measure the expected encore was rather pleasnatly surprising. That indefatigable man behind the Stradivari Season, James Grech, joined Stravinsky in the final movement from Bach's Double Violin concerto, to Madame Bekova's accompaniment - Weekender, September 6, 2003
- This was virtouso playing of high order in which powerful fortissimos gave way to the most tender and haunting pianissimos with a tone that ranged form exquisite delicacy to brilliant strength......This concert was presented by James Grech as part of the Stradivari Season 2002-03. This is a one man project that aims at presenting high quality concerts to local music lovers and that certainly deserves all the encouragement and support he can get. - The Sunday Times, March 2, 2003
- The Sofia Ladies - a Bulgarian ensemble consisting of 8 string virtuosi presented works by Albinoni, Boccherini, Haydn, Schubert, Three Salzburg symphonies
- "This recital will easily be remembered as one of the highlights of the season, and definitely a good start to the Stradivari five-star recital series co-ordinated by James Grech. Mr. Grech has managed quite a coup" - Weekender November 29 2003
- In the summer of 2004, the Stradivari Season in collaboration with the Malta Council for culture and the arts presented a series of 17 concerts in many of the beautiful venues around the Maltese islands, with artists from over 10 countries. The Grand finale was an operatic recital by Bolshoi theatre soloists Marina Poplavskaya and Andre Breus
- James Grech for the Stradivari Season of concerts presented the second of two concerts in a week yesterday week when pianist Sergei Glavatsih and violinist Alexander Krapovski, two soloists with strong but not wayward personalities, performed two of the concertos that form part of the standard repertoire of violin and piano virtousi at the Manoel theatre...Grech too contributed his bit of virtouso playing towards the end of the evening - The Sunday Times March 7, 2004
- Keyboard Classics (May '04) - presented by Stradivari Season on the occasion of Lufthansa 20th anniversary celebrations. Features pianist Sergei Glavatskih in a solo piano recital of piano works by Russian composers
- The Stradivari Season celebrated its 50th concert with a grand performance at the Manoel Theatre featuring the stunning music of the most famous tango composer Astor Piazzola. The programme combined dance and music. James Grech himself was one of the performers