Nicola Lisle gets her party poppers ready for a New Year’s Eve Strauss spectacular in the company of violin prodigy Mathilde Milwidsky

When you are regarded as “an exceptional talent” by a violin legend like Maxim Vengerov, you know you have a bright future ahead of you.

At 22, and still studying at the Royal Academy of Music, London-born violinist Mathilde Milwidsky already has a CV that many twice her age would envy.

She has won several awards, collaborated with a number of high-profile musicians and appeared at many of the UK’s major festivals and concert halls.

Little wonder that OSJ founder John Lubbock – who has described her as “a superb violinist and captivating musician” – snapped her up when he had the chance.

“I was introduced to John by my former violin teacher and I stepped in at the last minute to play a concert in Oxford about three years ago,” Mathilde recalls. “Since then we’ve worked together regularly.”

Next week Mathilde will be joining the OSJ again for their annual New Year’s Eve Strauss Gala, where she will be playing the last movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5 (the Turkish), Thaïs Méditation and two salon pieces by Kreisler, Liebesleid and Schön Rosmarin.

“Mozart is one of my absolute favourite composers,” she says. “The concerto’s interesting because it breaks away from the traditional Mozart writing.

“The Kreisler pieces evoke the 1930s, when he wrote them. Kreisler himself was a violinist, so I’ve been listening to his own recordings of the pieces, and others from that golden era of that style of playing.

“The Thaïs piece is from an opera, so there’s the challenge of that operatic style of playing, the challenge to hark back to the 30s with the Kreisler and then obviously the Mozart is a completely different style. So it’ll be very interesting to play.”

Mathilde’s interest in the violin was sparked at the age of four when she was watching a film, Un Coeur en Hiver (A Heart in Winter), with her mother.

“The whole soundtrack was pieces by Maurice Ravel, the Piano Trio and Violin Sonata, and the story was set around this beautiful violinist,” she says.

“I think it was a combination of that music and this gorgeous actress who was playing the part of the violinist that coaxed me into learning the violin. I’ve loved playing ever since.”

What was her first big break? “It’s hard to say, really. One of the highlights was playing a solo recital in the Royal Festival Hall when I was 19. That was the biggest date I’d ever played, and that was through winning an award through the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Martin Musical Scholarship. So that was an incredible experience.

“I was in the Menuhin Competition this year, which led to going on The One Show, and I had interviews in The Guardian and BBC World Service, so that was a really brilliant experience too.”

Plans for next year include tours to Bulgaria, Spain and Switzerland, as well as a return to the Wigmore Hall.

First, though, she is looking forward to being back with the OSJ. “It’s a fantastic orchestra so it should be a lot of fun playing with them,” she says.

The gala also features Chopin’s Minute Waltz, with pianist Maki Sekiya, as well as all the Strauss favourites – the Emperor Waltz, Champagne Polka, Blue Danube Waltz and more – to see in the New Year in traditional style.

  • Orchestra of St John’s: Strauss Gala is at Dorchester Abbey on New Year’s Eve, 7pm. Tickets: 01865 305305 or ticketsoxford.com

Other festive concerts...

  • HANDEL’S MESSIAH BY CANDLELIGHT

Instruments of Time and Truth

University Church of St Mary the Virgin

Friday, 5pm

ticketsoxford.com

Edward Higginbottom conducts this deservedly popular Christmas favourite in an atmospheric, candlelit setting. With Milly Forrest (soprano), Carolyn Holt (alto), Cameron Mitchell (tenor) and Nicholas Mogg (bass). Note there are only limited view tickets left for this performance.

SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

Christ Church Cathedral Choir

Christ Church Cathedral

Christmas Eve

Tickets: 01865 305305 or ticketsoxford.com

This traditional service is now sold out, but returns may be available on the door 20 minutes before each event. Carols, candlelight and choir processions around the cathedral make this a special event.

  • BACH: CHRISTMAS ORATORIO

Oxford Bach Soloists

New College Chapel

Christmas Eve, 5pm

Tickets: oxfordbachsoloists.com

Tom Hammond-Davis directs the first three parts of Bach’s 1734 oratorio, which covers the birth of Jesus, the annunciation to the shepherds and the adoration of the shepherds.