Welcome to Bittersweet Symphony, a podcast about the bitter, sweet and bittersweet memories and experiences of classical musicians during the pandemic. Hosted and produced by me, Cliodhna Ryan, a violinist, it’s an intimate and heart-warming exploration of the human spirit.
My guest in episode fourteen is Elaine Clark, violinist and co-leader of the National Symphony Orchestra in Ireland.
Her bitter experience is the almost physical ache she felt due to the prolonged separation from her mother in Aberdeen. Her sweet was performing a live stream of Beethoven’s String Quartet Op.131 on the stage of the National Concert Hall. On stage, at that moment, she felt “This is where I am meant to be!”. Her bittersweet was also the live streaming experience. While she loved playing and being back with her colleagues, the distance, the difficulty in communication, and the lack of an audience inhibited true, meaningful connection.
Born in Aberdeen, Elaine studied with David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she won several awards and prizes. After graduating with a First Class Honours Degree, she continued her studies with Viktor Liberman at the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands.
Since 1996, when she was appointed Co-Leader of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Elaine has made Dublin her home. She is a regular soloist with the NSO, most recently in performances of Bach Double Concerto and Deirdre Gribbens's Venus Blazing as well as performing as soloist in John Williams ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Suite in the presence of President Michael D, Higgins. She has also led many orchestras both home and abroad, including RTE Concert Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.’
Elaine has a deep love of chamber music and has been able to nourish this by being a member of the Ficino Ensemble, Ficino Quartet and Clarion Horn Trio, as well as performing numerous freelance chamber music concerts. She has also travelled extensively with the contemporary music ensemble Concorde and performed numerous world premieres.
She has given masterclasses at Royal Irish Academy of Music, University of Limerick and Cork School of Music and sits on the board of UCD Symphony Orchestra.
This interview was recorded in September 2021.
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CREDITS
Thumbnail Art || Colm MacAthlaoith
Writers || Mick Jagger, Richard Ashcroft, Keith Richards
Violin || Cliodhna Ryan
Production || Cliodhna Ryan
Mastering || Patrick Stefan Groenland

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