Globe-trotting busker has a new string to his bow

IT was in a Korean subway, tired and penniless and being converged on by police officers, that David Juritz began to question his plan to busk his way around the world.

The violinist was in the middle of a four-and-a-half month trip that would take him to six continents, 24 countries and 50 cities when he discovered that busking doesn't go down well with Asian law enforcers.

"If you go to the Far East, people perform publicly but don't ask for money, as it would be seen as begging," he said.

"The Koreans have a huge number of good classical musicians and I started playing in the street and had a big crowd in minutes – the best of the whole journey – but I couldn't get any money.

"Later in the day I was so low on cash I had to chance playing in an underpass and people did begin giving me money. But then the police descended and starting taking photos and sending radio messages.

"I thought I was going to be handcuffed and taken away, but luckily they let me off.

"I guess the music is universal. People say Bach is known just about everywhere and I was playing a lot of Bach. But some countries don't have a culture of street performing at all. Around Europe people get it but I learned I had to be sensitive to some local traditions elsewhere."

During the journey, which attracted worldwide media attention, David raised money to set up a new charity, Musequality, to support music projects for young people in the developing world.

"I guessed it was sparked by my late mid-life crisis," joked David. "I did a lot of busking in my student days. One of the perks of being a musician is that you can go out and earn money fairly easily and I used to go on holiday and pay for it by busking.

"I had always said you could go right round the world doing this. So when I was about to turn 50 the idea came back into my head and it took me only two minutes to work out the whole game plan.

"I walked out of the house with a back pack and a completely empty wallet and went down to the tube station to see if I could raise cash and just keep going.

"I managed on £89 a day, but there were bad days. I walked around the whole of Berlin trying to find a pitch with blisters on the soles of my feet and earned 11 euros all day."

David raised £35,000 from sponsorship for his charity.

He will be back playing, but not busking, this month when he leads another unusual venture.

The Four Seasons By Candlelight is a concert, with David directing and playing the violin. It features an orchestra in 18th-century costume.

The music will be performed in an evocative "candlelit" setting.

"It all looks splendid," said David. "I wish the audience could see what it's like backstage.

"When people put on those coats and wigs they take on a different personality. In some ways it's a bit like being in a pantomime – it's a little bit larger than life and it really changes the way you perform.

"In these days of health and safety, however, we aren't allowed to use real candles, but the candle effects look great."

Vivaldi's Four Seasons takes up the second half of the programme, which will also include classical favourites such as Bach's Air on a G String and Stanley's Trumpet Voluntary.

Soprano Gail Pearson and trumpet player Crispian Steele-Perkins will join David and the Mozart Festival Orchestra.

"There will be pieces people will know but didn't know they knew," said David. "It's a lovely, well-balanced programme."

The only downside for David is that it can be unbearably hot for the performers.

"All the wigs are made out of yak hair," he says. "Yaks live at high altitude where there's lots of snow, so you are very well insulated. Add a very heavy velvet jacket and it's like having a sauna every night. But that's probably very good for me!"

THE FOUR SEASONS BY CANDLELIGHT

WHERE: Derby Assembly Rooms.

WHEN: Saturday, November 28 (7.30pm).

TICKETS: £18-£27.

BOX OFFICE: 01332 255800.