Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- For concert lovers in Doha the style and dedication of the Bekirova twins is familiar from their frequent appearances among the leading violinists of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Saturday evening’s well-attended concert in the Qatar Academy auditorium offered an opportunity to appreciate the individual talent of these gifted musicians, who are equally at home in an orchestra and as soloists, Gulf Times reported.

Alie and Lilya Bekirova, identical sisters from Uzbekistan, were recognised while still very young as having exceptional musical gifts and by the age of 13 were already touring with the Tashkent National Symphonic and Chamber Orchestra. Since then their glittering careers have included many prizes and awards plus solo performances worldwide and appearances at international music festivals.

They were accompanied on Saturday by pianist Mikhail Lifits with whom they formed the Bekirova Trio in 2000. The full and varied programme ranged from well-known violin sonatas by classical composers Mozart and Beethoven to works by the 20th century Argentinian composer Astor Piazzola and the Spanish musician Pablo de Sarasate, the centenary of whose death was commemorated last year.

The seemingly effortless performance of the most demanding and complex works won the admiration and enthusiasm of the audience, as the identically and stylishly dressed sisters made their way through the long programme, sometimes performing singly with the piano and at other times together. Mikhail Lifits also gave an outstanding performance of a piano solo: Franz Schubert’s Impromptu No. 3 in G flat Major.

The second half of the programme included ’Winter’ and ’Spring’, two of The Four Seasons by the Argentinian composer Astor Piazzola, and an exciting gypsy-themed composition, ’Tzigane’ by Maurice Ravel, which Lilya Bekirova began by performing alone before being joined by Lifits. Also especially memorable were the brilliant, fast, virtuoso-style ’Tarantella’ by Sarasate in which Alie Bekirova was accompanied by Lifits, and the lively and amusing ’Navarra for Two Violins’ by the same composer which ended the concert.

The enthusiastic audience responded to the brilliant performance by the trio with prolonged applause and a standing ovation, and the three returned to the stage to do their polished party-piece, the popular ’Czardas’ by Monte, for part of which the two sisters played a single violin!