A superb Viennese violinist, Benjamin Schmid, will to open Johannesburg Musical Society’s 2010 season on February 20.

Benjamin Schmid, winner of the Carl Flesch International in London, will open the Johannesburg Musical Society’s 2010 season on Saturday 20 February at 8pm in the Linder Auditorium, St Andrews Road, Parktown.

Schmid, who is one of Europe’s finest and busiest performers, was not only the winner of the First Prize at the Carl Flesch, but he also took the Mozart, the Beethoven and the Audience Prize at this event. Today, his name appears in company with the names of some of the world’s greatest conductors, and he is in huge demand in premier classical music halls around the globe. Some of the orchestras he regularly performs with are the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic, the London Philharmonia, the St Petersburg Philharmonic and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

Benjamin Schmid will be accompanied by pianist Luis Margalhaes, who is the holder of Portugals National Medal for Cultural Achievement.

Together, they play two works by Schubert (the Rondo Brillant and the Fantasy in C), as well as Beethoven’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in G, Opus 96. Benjamin Schmid will also play Eugene Ysaye’s Fourth Sonata for Solo Violin, a work he has recently performed at London’s Wigmore Hall.

Tickets can be booked at Computicket (R105-R135). Students 23 and under with a valid student card pay only R25. Please note that there is no credit card facility at the Linder.

Also note that members of the Johannesburg Musical Society pay substantially less for their tickets and also receive a free programme at each concert. For more details about the JMS phone 011 728 5492 or 083 228 2917.