Archive

Sibelius Symphony No. 7

Nielsen Flute Concerto Burak Besir Flute

Beethoven Symphony No. 2 op 36 in D Major

Two contrasting symphonies sandwich Nielsen’s delightful concerto, which has been described as “piquant, fluent and with no dearth of humour”. Beethoven’s Second Symphony is very much an example of pure “classical” style, whereas Sibelius described his own later works as offering the public “pure cold water”, while other composers were engaged in manufacturing cocktails.

Burak Besir (flute) is a 2003 winner of The Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists. This scheme, run by “Making Music” (formerly known as the National Federation of Music Societies) has been instrumental in launching the careers of many of today’s stars. Burak Besir was born in Cyprus. After early training in Cyprus and Ankara, he moved to the UK and took his MMus Performance Degree at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He has given recitals in Cyprus and Istanbul as well as in England.

Khachaturian/Tchaikovsky/Stravinsky

The Firebird by Andrey Anisimov.

Khachaturian Adagio of Spartacus and Phryggia

The Adagio from the ballet Spartacus of 1954 will be better known to many as the theme of The Onedin Line. 

Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite Opus 20a (excerpts)

Swan Lake is the story of Prince Siegfried who falls in love with Princess Odette, who had been turned into a swan by the evil Rothbart. It was first performed in Moscow in 1877, but the form was much more advanced than the company was used to and the performance was not coherent and not well received. The version choreographed by Pepita and Ivanov, premiered in St Petersburg in 1895 is the one that survived. Swan Lake contains some of Tchaikovsky’s most memorable music.

Stravinsky The Firebird (Complete, 1910)

The Firebird, written for the Ballets Russes, shows the influence of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and other Russian masters as well as Debussy. It is full of the most wonderful, exotic orchestral colour, much of it familiar from the popular suite. In the 3 years following his use of rhythms and folk songs became more advanced resulting in the ballets Petrushka and the Rite of Spring.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

The march Orb and Sceptre conjures up the pomp and ceremony of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, for which it was written 50 years ago.

In his Jazz Suites, Shostakovich really lets his hair down. They are not really jazz at all, but simply great light music in the style of the dance music of the era. Unlike the first suite, Jazz Suite No. 2  is scored for a large orchestra.

Gershwin’s light-hearted An American in Paris has closer jazz influences, and portrays the impression of an American visitor to Paris as he strolls about, absorbing the sounds and atmosphere of the city.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 is one of his most deeply felt works, and also one of his most popular. Its opening mood of brooding self-doubt is followed by vivid contrasts, frenzied climaxes, a celebrated slow movement, an elegant waltz, ending with the rich orchestral splendour of an exultant finale.

The ‘Sicilian Vespers’ is one of Verdi’s many popular operatic overtures, using the tunes from the opera to set the scene.

Berlioz, whose bicentenary is this year, was a great admirer of Shakespeare. Like many other composers, he was especially drawn to the drama and passion of the story of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Sir Malcolm Arnold is a modern composer, who is perhaps not as “fashionable” as he might be since his music is instantly approachable, witty and tuneful, qualities that abound in his 5th Symphony of 1960. His music is familiar to most people through his prolific film scores, including Bridge on the River Kwai and his award winning Inn of the Sixth Happiness. For more information on the man and his music visit the excellent official web site.

Copland Clarinet Concerto

Kodály Háry János

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 1

Sergei Rachmaninov 1873-1943

Aaron Copland wrote his Clarinet Concerto for Benny Goodman and so it contains hot jazzy elements. We welcome as soloist the brilliant young Sarah Williamson, fresh from her recent successes at prestigious young musicians competitions.

Sarah came to the attention of the British musical public very recently, in the 2002 BBC TV ‘Young Musician of the Year’ competition in which she won the woodwind prize. In the concerto final, she gave a highly memorable performance of the Copland Clarinet Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Then, representing Britain and competing against twenty other ‘Young Musicians’ from around Europe, Sarah was awarded second prize in the Eurovision ‘Young Musician’ competition in Berlin. She is now studying at the Paris Conservatoire.

An orchestral sneeze, signifying that what follows is of doubtful veracity, introduces Háry János’ far-fetched tales which make the most outrageous claims for his gallantry.

The 24-year-old Rachmaninov was so upset by the poor first performance of his First Symphony that he destroyed the manuscript score. Some 50 years later the orchestral parts were discovered and the importance of the work was then recognized. 2003 is the 60th anniversary of his death (and the 130th anniversary of his birth).

Brahms Academic Festival Overture

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3

Walton Symphony No. 1

William Walton 1902-1983

Brahms Academic Festival Overture

Brahms did not receive a college education, but was the recipient of honorary doctorates from Cambridge and Breslau universities. His thank you to Breslau in 1880 was the Academic Festival Overture based on student drinking songs, concluding with Gaudeamus igitur and he was delighted when students sang along.

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 Lucy Parham Piano

Beethoven’s Third  Piano Concerto is the first of his mature concertos. It was written about the same time as his ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Pathétique’ sonatas and is full of their passion and magic. We are delighted to have Lucy Parham as our distinguished soloist.

The first performance in 1803 also was also the premiere of Beethoven’s Second Symphony and the Oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives, as well as a performance of his First Symphony.

Lucy Parham is acknowledged as one of Britain’s finest pianists. Since winning the BBC TV ‘Young Musician of the Year’ Piano Class in 1984, she has performed throughout the UK and abroad as soloist with many major British and foreign orchestras. She has appeared regularly at all the major London venues and at many international festivals. She has also made many successful commercial recordings, one of which won the prestigious BBC Music Magazine “Critics’ Choice of the Year”. She has also broadcast on ITV, BBCTV and Radio 3.

Walton Symphony No. 1

We mark Walton’s centenary year with a performance of his First Symphony, one of the major masterpieces of British music. It progresses from an insistent, surging opening movement, a snarling scherzo and a cool, melancholy slow movement, to a glorious triumphant finale. Walton took more time than planned to conclude the symphony to his satisfaction, and its first performance in 1934 did not include the finale. It was premiered in its entirety in 1935.