Autumn 12 - Cultural Quarterly

In the Right Place
Pianist Alexandra Silocea talks to CQ about her appearance
with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and how Sussex
has proved to be the right place at the right time.
When pianist Alexandra
Silocea moved to Lewes, little
did she know the
opportunities awaiting her in
music rich Sussex. Last year,
she performed at the Meads
Music Festival for the first time
and, in September, she will
debut at Alfriston’s new music
festival. But the icing on the
cake is her pending debut
with the London Philharmonic
Orchestra (LPO).
Alexandra said: “In
September, I am playing in
Alfriston at the new music
festival organised by the
wonderful opera singer
Matthew Rose. It will be my first
collaboration with members of
the Sacconi Quartet and Tony
Hougham for Schubert’s Trout
Quintet and, two days later, I am
performing a solo recital.”
Alexandra moved to Lewes
when her husband Sébastien
Chonion took the position of
recording producer at nearby
Glyndebourne. Her first CD
Piano Sonatas 1–5 By S
Prokofiev, released last year,
was a risky choice, but
Alexandra was adamant in her
selection and the CD was met
with rave reviews. The 28-yearold
Romanian’s second album
is due for release in 2013, again
with her husband as producer.
Alexandra said: “We are
recording again in St Dunstan
Parish Church in Mayfield. The
acoustic is wonderful and I
can’t wait to repeat the
experience I had two years ago.
“It’ll be a completely
different repertoire, a special
mixture of composers with a
twist. I am collaborating for the
first time with the Norwegian
composer Martin Romberg,
who has written a piece for me.
Both Avie Records and
Steinway London have been
very supportive. I feel
incredibly lucky to be
surrounded by wonderful
22 Cultural Quarterly Autumn 2012
people who believe in me.”
In the coming months,
Alexandra is booked to perform
in Burgess Hill, France, Italy,
Lewes and, of course,
Eastbourne’s Congress
Theatre, where she will be
playing Mozart’s Concerto No
17 with the LPO.
Alexandra said: “It’s such a
privilege, joy and incredible
honour to be invited to perform
with this world class orchestra,
and being given the chance to
perform with LPO’s principal
conductor Vladimir Jurowski is
a dream come true. I have been
listening and admiring Vladimir
Jurowski and the LPO for so
many years now and being
invited to perform Mozart is a
pure delight.”
Alexandra says that Lewes’
peacefulness is very dear to her
and gives her energy and
inspiration.
“I finally can call it home. I
am obviously in the right place.”
London Philharmonic
Orchestra
Congress Theatre
December 9
www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk
(Above)
Alexandra Silocea.