Gypsy Folk Feat

Katherine Toy on accordion and Helmut Scholz on violin

Saturday 31st May 2008
Time: 5:45 - 7:15 p.m.
National Theatre foyer, London

I met German violinist Helmut Scholz in St. Paul's Underground Station. I was on my way to work on a Sunday, which was naughty of me, but became so captivated by the solo performance of this long thin rocking bow like figure who's cloths and long hoary beard blew out in the wind chasing through the tunnel like a vagabond, that I left the station only to return with change, breakfast and a coffee!

Helmut's performance is engaging, something like a conversation, even more like a story. He is the Ancient Mariner of the fiddle. When he performed for us last, the faces of all present were the faces of children gathered around a story teller. He captured and held their full attention, sometimes waning somber, sometimes dropping phrases provoking spontanious laughter as he crept among them with his fiddle. He is not just a musician, but also a performer. This perhaps explains his recently discovered passion for the stage, and combining his music with acting. After decades of busking in countries across Europe, busking around the South Bank in London, Helmut has recently found himself picked up for a number of exciting stage roles. He is still to be found however, as he always was, entertaining on the south bank of the river and in underground stations across London.

For anybody not lucky enough to have chanced yet upon Helmut in his natural environment under bridge or tree, the 31st offers a wonderful opportunity to see Helmut in action, and performing with his long standing partner in music, Hungarian accordion player Katherine Toy.

I look forward to seeing you there! I would also encourage anybody interested in casting Helmut to come along or to get in touch.


Links

Information from The National Theatre
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/The%20Virtuosos+36218.twl

Helmut and Katherine's Site:
http://www.thevirtuosos.de/