Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

Celebrating Beethoven

London Mozart Players Simon Blendis: director Jonian Ilias Kadesha: violin Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

More concerts with artists from the Celebrating Young Classical Artists Trust Beethoven

Broadcast at 7pm, Sunday 15 November. Filmed at St John’s Smith Square.

Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Op.62 Beethoven Violin Concerto in D, Op.61

A Classical Celebration! Bows & Oboes Available to watch now! Available to watch now! Simon Blendis director Jonian Ilias Kadesha violin Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 ‘Classical’ Strauss: Oboe Concerto London Mozart Players Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, Italian

Soloist: Maciej Kulakowski Conductor: Mateusz Moleda Soloist: Olivier Stankiewicz

About YCAT Keep in touch! Founded in 1984, the Young Since its foundation, over 100 gifted If you have enjoyed this concert and londonmozartplayers Classical Artists Trust is a specialist musicians have launched their would like to hear more about the mozartplayers charity that identifies, nurtures, careers as YCAT Artists. These London Mozart Players then do sign londonmozartplayers.com and supports musicians early in include Ian Bostridge CBE, Alison up for our newsletter via our website. their careers and enables them to Balsom OBE, the Belcea Quartet, become self-supporting and to move James Baillieu as well as finalists of You’ll get to hear first about all our generations of audiences around the the BBC Young Musician of the Year upcoming concerts and exclusive world with their talent. such as Martin James Bartlett, Jess events, and enjoy priority booking Gillam and Sheku Kanneh-Mason. and special offers. London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

Violin 1 Flute Simon Blendis Harry Winstanley Sijie Chen Nicolas Bricht Victoria Sayles Nicoline Kraamwinkel Oboe Ann Criscuolo Gareth Hulse Martin Smith Katie Clemmow

Violin 2 Clarinet Jennifer Godson Fiona Cross Gemma Sharples Neyire Ashworth Jeremy Metcalfe Jayne Spencer Bassoon Nikki Gleed Jonathan Davies Emma Harding Viola Bryony Gibson-Cornish Horn Meghan Cassidy Alex Wide Michael Posner Martin Grainger Oliver Wilson Trumpet Cello Philip Cobb Sebastian Comberti Peter Wright Julia Desbruslais Sarah Butcher Timpani Benedict Hoffnung Double Bass Benjamin Russell Catherine Elliott

London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven Programme notes Violin Concerto in D Major

i) Allegro ma non troppo It is 1806–1807 The celebrations planned for Beethoven’s performed in a single day, and now we are 250th anniversary in 2020 have been muted rounding off our first Classical Club series ii) Larghetto • Napoleon is focusing his efforts somewhat, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with a concert that features his magnificent iii) Rondo/Allegro on expanding his empire towards but we are delighted to be able to keep our Coriolan Overture and Violin Concerto. Warsaw, whilst plotting a campaign two important dates with Beethoven this At LMP, we wonder what Beethoven against England with the support of year. In March, Howard Shelley delighted would have made of all the fuss for his Czar Alexander I. us with Beethoven’s five concertos anniversary? Imagine lying in bed at night, tired after • In Britain, the slave trade is a long day’s work and suddenly the abolished and preparations are neighbours start some late night DIY. made for the first Ascot Gold Cup. Hammering. Very annoying. Or maybe not Wordsworth and Lord Byron are annoying at all. Maybe you are fascinated busy writing and Pleyel builds his by the sound and think how that could form piano factory in Paris. In Germany, Volscians murdered their leader. the basis of a piece of music; a concerto... Schiller has just died and Goethe The ‘tragic hero’ theme inspired the a violin concerto! The story goes that this marries Christiane Vulpius. Coriolan Overture playwright Heinrich Joseph von Collin to was exactly what happened to Beethoven. • It is a time of extraordinary portray Coriolan as a character struggling productivity for Beethoven: his with leading an uneducated, ignorant Whether or not it is a true story and opera Leonore and his Mass in C populace and causing his own destruction whether this really formed the idea of are performed, he works on the Why did Beethoven write an Overture to through pride. He let the hero die by the opening theme in Beethoven’s Violin three Razumovsky quartets, the Coriolan? Did he somehow feel an affinity tragically falling on his own sword. Concerto, the beginning of the piece is fourth and fifth Symphonies are to this tragic hero who fights an internal truly remarkable. Imagine the surprise completed, the Appassionata battle between his pride, his loyalty to his Inspired by this story and hoping to gain a of the audience of 1806, settled in their Sonata is published, he writes his own values and his inability to accept the contract for another opera from Vienna’s Violin Concerto and the Coriolan ignorance of the populace? theatres, Beethoven wrote his Overture as Overture. a calling card. Sadly, it did not lead to any • Is he happy? Finances are not According to Plutarch, Caius Markus commission but what a dramatic piece of easy. While his patrons appreciate Coriolanus lived between 156 and 87 BC. music was composed! his music, money is not readily A ‘naturally valiant and warlike’ Roman forthcoming. Struggling in love general, he led a successful campaign Sandwiched between the 4th and 5th and dealing with his worsening against a persistent enemy – the Volscians Symphonies, the Overture condenses the deafness, the picture that arises – and returned to Rome a hero. Elected to two main themes of the story – Coriolan from his and other contemporaries’ the Roman Consul, his reported pride made and his gentle mother – into a highly letters is of an unsettled man; him fall out of favour with his own people Romantic piece of music. The powerful sometimes angry, frustrated, or and he was exiled. opening is followed by a restless theme in Classical Club unpacked euphoric. C minor. The contrasting gentle and fluid Vicky Sayles introduces Beethoven’s This needed revenge: he sided with the second theme represents the pleading of Coriolan Overture. enemy and soon marched on Rome. the mother. Rage and pleading alternate, Fearing the loss of their city, the Romans following the arch-shape of the sonata Click the play icon above or visit sent Coriolanus’ wife and mother to plead form, and the piece ends with a fading londonmozartplayers.com/classicalclub- with him and soften his resolve. He gave in out of the first subject whilst the strings’ concert-programmes to watch. to their entreaties and ordered the army pizzicato signify the last dying heartbeats. to retreat. Angry at this weakness the London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

seats, anticipating a new and wonderful violin concerto and first hearing five repeated notes on the timpani! At that St John’s Smith time, an almost shocking experience. This knocking theme repeats throughout the Square first movement, like a gentle recurring heartbeat. Just a stone’s throw from the Copland and Tippett to name but a few, and musicians of the calibre It takes three minutes before the solo Houses of Parliament, tucked away of Joan Sutherland, , violin begins to play, another surprise for in a quiet square, stands the former Daniel Barenboim, Sir , the audience, and when it finally starts, the church of St John the Evangelist, Harrison Birtwistle, Plácido Domingo, orchestra holds its breath for a moment, a baroque masterpiece that has Philip Glass and many others perform before joining the soloist in a gentle survived fires, a lightning strike, and/or record here. St John’s Smith accompaniment of the glorious first theme. subsidence, a direct hit during the Square is one of the London Mozart Throughout, the solo violin is graceful and Blitz, and threats of being turned Players regular concert halls, and lyrical, especially in the slow movement, into a carpark. Fortunately, the we are thrilled to perform two of where it traces beautiful lines against the 1710 church was saved and turned Beethoven’s most popular works here backdrop of the thoughtful melody of the into one of London’s finest concert for Classical Club. orchestra. The last movement in Rondo halls, opening in 1969. It has seen premieres by Stockhausen, Birtwistle, form is full of energy, yet remains elegant. Above: Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven Beethoven had broken the mould of the in 1803, painted by Christian Horneman. earlier concerto style, but how did the audience respond?

Franz Clement, the soloist for whom the piece was written, was a young virtuoso who could even play with the violin upside down! A feat he liked to show off between movements of concertos he performed. Unfortunately, Clement and the orchestra received the manuscript of the concerto only two days before the performance and were practically sight-reading the music. Obviously, it didn’t go well, and the audience did not warm to the piece. A great disappointment for Beethoven. Classical Club unpacked Vicky Sayles introduces Beethoven’s It wasn’t until 1844 when the 12-year- Violin Concerto. old Joseph Joachim performed the Concerto to perfection in London, that this Click the play icon above or visit masterpiece earned its rightful place as one londonmozartplayers.com/classicalclub- of the greatest pieces of music of the late concert-programmes to watch. Classical period. London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

The London Mozart Players, the UK’s FM’s social media channels. And now LMP longest established chamber orchestra, is in the vanguard of UK orchestras testing was founded in 1949 by Harry Blech to the waters with paid-for online orchestral delight audiences with the works of Mozart concerts to support their musicians, rather and Haydn. The orchestra is known for its than relying on donations. unmistakable British roots. Over the last seventy years, the LMP has developed an If you have enjoyed this performance, outstanding reputation for adventurous, please go online and find out more about ambitious programming from Baroque LMP’s Classical Club: eight concerts filmed through to genre-crossing contemporary in unusual or iconic venues in front of music, and continues to build on its long socially-distanced audiences and streamed history of association with many of the online via a password-protected broadcast world’s finest artists including Sir James platform. You can buy an eight-concert Galway, Dame Felicity Lott, Jane Glover, ‘Season Pass’ for £60. Concerts will be Howard Shelley, , James available to view on demand up until 1 Ehnes, John Suchet and Simon Callow. December. The orchestra enjoys an international reputation, touring extensively throughout LMP has partnered with Scala Radio, who Europe and the Far East, most recently will promote this exciting series, and they’ll Dubai and Hong Kong, and records also be hosting extra content via their frequently for Naxos, Chandos, CPO, website. Signum and Hyperion Records.

The London Mozart Players has remained active throughout the pandemic. Not only was this player-led chamber orchestra the first ensemble to offer daily unique online content throughout lockdown with ‘At Home with LMP’ (225,000+ views), it was also the first UK orchestra to perform after restrictions were lifted in mid-June, with their LMP Live! concert series with Tasmin Little and attracting an audience of over 1 million via Classic London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

Jonian Ilias Kadesha Become an

Born in Athens of Albanian and Greek LMP Friend heritage, Jonian is currently completing his Masters at the Kronberg Academy with Antje Weithaas. In 2018 he was a Our wonderful LMP Friends are a vibrant We have various membership packages prize-winner at the Young Classical Artists community of music lovers who receive available, starting from £60 (£100 Trust (YCAT) International Auditions exclusive benefits and association with the for a couple) and you can join via our held at . Over the last year orchestra and its musicians, whilst helping website: londonmozartplayers.com/ Jonian has appeared as soloist with the to support the future of the London Mozart lmp-friends Chamber Orchestra of Europe at the Players. Kronberg Festival, the Athens State Symphony at Megaron Hall and Scottish For an annual fee, our Friends enjoy a range Chamber Orchestra at Tivoli Hall. He has of benefits including exclusive access to the given a recital at Wigmore Hall and made Philharmonic, Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt, players, discounted tickets, special events his debut at the Konzerthaus Berlin as RTE Concert Orchestra, New Russian State and free programmes. For example, LMP soloist and artistic director of the Caerus Symphony, Greek Radio and Thessaloniki Friends are able to purchase a Classical Club Kammerensemble. Solo highlights include State Orchestras. 8-concert pass for just £36. appearances with Munich Radio, Lübeck

AVAILABLE NOW AVAILABLE NOW Michael Collins: Clarinet A Classical Celebration! at the Clock Tower Prokofiev: Classical Symphony Weber: Clarinet Quintet Schumann: Cello Concerto in Bb Major, Op.34 Mozart: Clarinet Quintet Maciej Kulakowski: cello in A Major, K.581

Watch online from 7pm on Thursday 1 October Watch online right now! London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

Donate to support

This online 8-concert series is LMP’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. When lockdown began in March 2020, all the orchestra’s live music, recordings and education events were cancelled, along with all the related income. LMP immediately went online to share its music and daily unique content for free through initiatives like ‘At Home with LMP’ and ‘LMP Live!’ which attracted more than 1.3 million views. You can still enjoy this content via our YouTube channel.

LMP’s Classical Club was launched behind a paywall to try to recoup revenue lost throughout 2020, and to ensure that as one of Britain’s finest chamber orchestras, we will be ready to face a new future.

As an unfunded orchestra, we rely on the generous donations of our audiences, patrons and donors as well as ticket sales. Whilst concert hall doors may be closed, These funds help support our community we are determined to continue bringing work, build inspiring partnerships, as well world-class music to as wide an audience as as helping us to protect the livelihoods and possible. By making a donation today, you mental wellbeing of musicians and staff, all can help ensure that our work can continue of whom have been greatly impacted at this both now, and in the future. time. Thank you.

londonmozartplayers.com/donate-now London Mozart Players Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

Coming soon...

We hope that you have enjoyed our first season of digital concerts with LMP’s Classical Club. We have some exciting plans for 2021, including a wonderful series of Available now concerts with virtuoso pianist Howard Shelley, who joins us for our seventh series A Classical Celebration! Bows and Oboes of Piano Explored. If you are not familiar Venue: St John the Evangelist Venue: Fairfield Halls, Croydon with this series of lunchtime concerts at St Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, Strauss Oboe Concerto John’s Smith Square, it is one of the jewels ‘Classical’ Op.25 Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 in the LMP crown. In just one hour, virtuoso Schumann Cello Concerto in A major, Op. 90, Italian pianist Howard Shelley OBE gives a witty in A minor, Op.129 Olivier Stankiewicz oboe (YCAT soloist) and insightful introduction to one or two Maciej Kulakowski cello Mateusz Moleda conductor famous and not-so-famous works for piano and orchestra, before performing them Thursday 7 January 2021, 1:05pm alongside the London Mozart Players. Mendelssohn: Capriccio Brillant in B minor Michael Collins: Clarinet Stravinsky: The Soldier’s Tale Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto 2 in G minor at the Clock Tower Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea In the 2020/21 series, Howard Shelley, Venue: St Pancras Clock Tower Stravinsky The Soldier’s Tale directing from the piano, will perform Wednesday 13 January 2021, 1:05pm Weber Clarinet Quintet in Tama Matheson narrator some of the best loved virtuosic classics Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor B-flat major, Op.34 William Vann conductor of Mozart, Schumann and Shostakovich, Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 some lesser known works by Saint-Saens Wednesday 10 February 2021, 1:05pm Michael Collins clarinet and Mendelssohn, and a couple of relatively Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major unknown pieces by Hummel and Moscheles Shostakovich: Piano Concerto 2 that deserve a wider audience. Whether Façade at Freemasons’ Hall beloved or brand new, each equally brilliant Wednesday 10 March 2021 Venue: Freemasons’ Hall work is a showcase for a virtuoso pianist, Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major Walton Façade: An Entertainment and Howard Shelley and the LMP look Samuel West narrator forward to bringing them to life for you Wednesday 14 April 2021, 1:05pm Benjamin Pope conductor in this series of perfectly pitched lunch- Hummel: Piano Concerto No. 4 in E hour concerts. Four of the concerts will be filmed for inclusion in LMP’s online Wednesday 26 May, 1:05pm ‘Classical Club’, online between 29th Mozart: Piano Concerto No.6 in B-flat major January and 10th March, the concert on Moscheles: Piano Concerto 1 in F major Concerts for Children the 10th March will be livestreamed. Children’s Concert – Children’s Concert – Tickets for the socially-distanced Little Red Riding Hood The Three Little Pigs concerts will be on sale soon. If you’d Venue: The Great Conservatory, Syon Park Venue: The Great Conservatory, Syon Park like to hear more about this series, then Patterson/Dahl Little Red Riding Hood Patterson/Dahl The Three Little Pigs do sign up for our newsletter or, better Polly Ives narrator Polly Ives narrator still, join LMP Friends, as members enjoy 20% off these concerts. Classical Club | Celebrating Beethoven

AVAILABLE NOW Façade at Freemasons’ Hall

Walton: Façade: An Entertainment

Samuel West: narrator Ben Pope: conductor

Watch online from 7pm on Thursday 8 October

AVAILABLE NOW Little Red Riding Hood

Paul Patterson: music Roald Dahl: words

Polly Ives: narrator

Watch online from 10am on Thursday 29 October London Mozart Players

St John the Evangelist Sylvan Road Upper Norwood London, SE19 2RX

020 8686 1996 [email protected]

Registered No: 8882717 Registered Charity No. 290833

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