Archive

Saturday 11th Nov 2017 at 19:45

Márquez Danzón No.2 

Casals arr Brown ‘Song of the Birds’ 
    Soloist Alice McVeigh

Debussy ‘Ibéria’ from ‘Images’ 

De Falla ‘Nights in the Garden of Spain’ 
    Soloist Catherine Borner

Ravel ‘Boléro’ 

Sexy, sassy and Latin American, Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 is followed by a Spanish folk miniature for solo cello and orchestra. Then we get into the meat of the concert. Debussy’s ‘Ibéria’ – impressionistic and evocative – reminds us of his comment: ‘Music is as boundless as the elements, the wind, the sky, the sea… ’ De Falla himself acknowledged Debussy’s achievement: ‘the intoxicating spell of Andalusian nights, the joyous strains of guitars and bandurrias, whirls in the air!’ De Falla’s own Nights in the Gardens of Spain follows (‘the most tragic and sorrowful of his works, expressing an intimate and passionate drama.’) Catherine Borner’s piano solos are woven within a flamboyant orchestral texture. We conclude with Ravel’s iconic Boléro – by far his most famous work.(At its premiere, a woman furiously objected that Ravel must be mad. Ravel’s comment? ‘She has understood the piece!’) A barn-storming finale!

A good quality video of this concert exists (all 5 pieces, no announcements, 74 minutes approx), recorded in high definition using three cameras and edited by Chris Beston. DVDs (standard definition, £8) and Blu-ray discs (high definition, £12) are for sale in the foyer on concert days or can be ordered through our contact page.

Márquez – Danzón No.2

Casals – Song of the Birds

Debussy – Ibéria

De Falla – Nights in the Garden of Spain

Ravel – Boléro

Saturday 20th May 2017 at 19:45

Dukas: ‘La Péri’, Fanfare et Poème dansé

Debussy: Rapsodie pour orchestre et saxophone
Soloist Robert Burton

Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Op. 73

Dukas suggested that his La Péri should evoke ‘translucent, dazzling enamel’ with hints of Persia. Debussy’s Spanish-inspired Rhapsody for saxophone and orchestra is followed by Brahms’ radiantly sunny, transcendently lyrical Second Symphony. See you there!

Saturday 18th March 2017 at 19:45

Schumann: Symphony No. 2, Op. 61 

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde 
    Soloists Janice Watson and John Upperton 

Schumann’s affirmatory Second Symphony precedes Mahler’s orient-inspired masterpiece, in which international artists Janice Watson and John Upperton take us on a journey from heroic energy through autumnal lament to a gloriously existential farewell.

Saturday 21st January 2017 at 19:45

Ireland: A London Overture 

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 30 
    Soloist Masa Tayama

Bliss: A Colour Symphony 

Ireland’s vibrant London Overture is coupled with Rachmaninov’s rhapsodic and virtuosic Third Piano Concerto, starring Masa Tayama. Arthur Bliss’ exuberantly dashing ‘Colour’ symphony – one of the great British masterpieces of the 20^th century – spins its magic in the second half.

Saturday 12th November 2016 at 19:45

Berlioz: Overture ‘King Lear’ Op. 4 

Debussy: Danse sacrée et Danse profane 
    Harp soloist Elizabeth Scorah

Ravel: ‘Daphnis et Chloé’ Ballet 

Our French first concert opens with Berlioz’ mercurial and richly programmatic King Lear. Harpist Elizabeth Scorah features in Debussy’s dreamily evocative Danse sacrée et Danse profane, followed by Ravel’s masterpiece of which he wrote: ‘Sumptuous and subtle, I have created the Greece of my dreams.’

Saturday 21st May 2016 at 19:45

Prokofiev Symphony No. 7 in C# minor, Op. 131 

Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major 

    Soloist Martin Bunce

Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia 

Tchaikovsky ‘1812’ Overture, Op. 49 

The final concert of this season features four short classics. In the first half, Prokofiev’s seventh symphony is teamed with Arutiunian’s dashing trumpet concerto – featuring our own trumpet principal, Martin Bunce. Afterwards, Borodin’s pint-sized tone poem ‘In the Steppes of Central Asia’ is followed by the careering fire, stirring drums and wild cannon of Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812’ Overture. See you there!

Saturday 19th March 2016 at 19:45

Schubert Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D. 485 

Bruckner Symphony No. 9 in D minor 

Our third concert of the season features another clever piece of programming: Schubert’s delightfully winning Symphony No 5 is followed by Bruckner’s shortest symphony: his seismic, turbulent and (finally) transcendent Ninth Symphony.

Saturday 23rd January 2016 at 19:45

Beethoven Overture: The Creatures of Prometheus

Sibelius Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63 

Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 

    Soloist Mathieu van Bellen

Beethoven takes pride of place in our second concert: his powerful ‘Prometheus’ Overture and his fabulous violin concerto frame Sibelius’ moodily brilliant Symphony No 4. We are delighted to once again feature rising star Mathieu van Bellen and his Guadagnini violin, this time in one of Beethoven’s most iconic works.

Saturday 14th November 2015 at 19:45

Schumann Overture from Manfred, Op. 115 

Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 

    Soloist Alexander Soares

Tchaikovsky ‘Manfred’ Symphony in B minor, Op. 58

We open the season with two ‘takes’ on the romantic period pin-up, Manfred: Schumann’s broodingly magnificent ‘Manfred’ overture and Tchaikovsky’s rich and dramatic ‘Manfred’ symphony. In between we feature serial international prizewinner Alexander Soares in Grieg’s endlessly tuneful piano concerto. Not to be missed!

Concert Saturday 16th May 2015 at 19:45

Humperdinck Prelude ‘Hänsel und Gretel’ 

Strauss Serenade for Thirteen Wind Instruments in E flat 

Glazunov Violin concerto in A minor 
    Soloist Callum Smart

Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances 

This concert consists of four brief and delightfully contrasting works. Humperdinck’s tuneful overture to Hansel and Gretel gives way to Richard Strauss’ charming chamber serenade for thirteen wind instruments and Glazunov’s scintillating violin concerto (starring previous Young Musician of the Year violin winner Callum Smart). Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances (a very late work) winds up the evening in sardonic, sensual style.