Meet the players!
An occasional series of interviews with regular members of St Paul's Sinfonia. No. 1: Frida Backman, who is playing the Sibelius violin concerto in our opening concert.
Describe your musical upbringing....
My mum was an amateur pianist and a singer in the church choir, my dad liked to sometimes strum the guitar and sing Beatles and other 'oldies'. When I was six, mum suggested that I would apply for the music centre in my home town of Grankulla, Finland. I was mighty surprised in my first instrumental lesson, when the teacher showed me my 1/4 size violin - I had never seen one - and, I had been under the impression that I was going to get flute lessons. As my teacher was a tall, old 'viking' lookalike with a bushy ginger beard, I dared not tell him about the 'misunderstanding' and after just a few lessons the flute was utterly forgotten. I loved both the feel of the instrument and the stimulating challenges.
Who are your favourite musicians, living or dead?
Brahms, Brien and Meta4. I admire people who pursue what they love doing and don't care about other people's opinions
What would be your dream concert programme?
Romantic, Romantic, Romantic! This concert (16/8/09) with Sibelius is pretty close.
What is your earliest memory?
I remember the old, musty smell of rosin inside my first violin case. The case had a blue interior, and the smell filled me with anticipation.
If I weren't a classical musician I'd be...
A writer or a painter
What are your favourite non-musical pastimes?
Day-dreaming. I also recently discovered I like walking; I conquered a mountain in North Wales.
What would your superpower of choice be?
I'd like everyone firstly to take responsibility for themselves. Secondly God (Universe).
Is the glass half-full or half empty?
It is always half-full.
Tell us a joke
Two tomatoes are crossing the road.
One gets hit by a car.
The other one says;
Oh come on, ketch-up!
(The first joke I ever heard and found funny - it even works in Swedish...I found it funny imagining pedestrian tomatoes being very cool and speaking English - and then getting run over. Perhaps this joke fundamentally affected my later desire to come to England...)
Others in the series: No. 2 Victoria Rawlins