CHAN 9949 Front.Qxd 18/7/07 10:57 Am Page 1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

CHAN 9949 Front.Qxd 18/7/07 10:57 Am Page 1 CHAN 9949 Front.qxd 18/7/07 10:57 am Page 1 CHAN 9949 CHANDOS FINZI & LEIGHTON CELLO CONCERTOS Raphael Wallfisch Raphael Wallfisch Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra • Vernon Handley Royal Scottish National Orchestra • Bryden Thomson CHAN 9949 BOOK.qxd 18/7/07 11:04 am Page 2 Gerald Finzi (1901–1956) Cello Concerto, Op. 40 39:03 in A minor • in a-Moll • en la mineur 1 I Allegro moderato 15:51 2 II Andante quieto 13:34 3 III Rondo: Adagio – Allegro giocoso 9:38 Lebrecht Collection Lebrecht Raphael Wallfisch cello Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Malcolm Stewart leader Vernon Handley Kenneth Leighton (1929–1988) Cello Concerto, Op. 31 32:24 4 I Allegro con moto – Meno mosso 12:32 5 II Scherzo and Trio: Allegro molto e ritmico (il più presto possibile) – Moderato e dolce 9:35 6 III Lentissimo: molto sostenuto 10:14 TT 71:32 Raphael Wallfisch cello Gerald Finzi Royal Scottish National Orchestra Edwin Paling leader Bryden Thomson 3 CHAN 9949 BOOK.qxd 18/7/07 11:04 am Page 4 Leighton: Cello Concerto, Op. 31 the second subject. The climax subsides, and Finzi/Leighton: Cello Concertos The Cello Concerto, Leighton’s seventh towards the end the solo cello’s inward reverie concertante work, was begun in Naples during is hauntingly coloured by the sul ponticello (on the summer of 1955 and was completed the the bridge) string tremolandi which underpin Finzi: Cello Concerto, Op. 40 swinging the harmony round in its second bar following spring. Leighton uses a brilliant it. Ultimately the movement dies away to Finzi completed this work for the Cheltenham to a major chord; with this reaching out, and orchestral pallette, tending to write for nothing, the strings muted. Festival of 1955. He had long had a cello the fierce trills, scotch-snap rhythms, and up- contrasting blocks of colour and merging The music runs straight into the central concerto in mind, and some of it already thrusting shape, the theme sets up a restless them for his climaxes. He is not afraid to write scherzo, as the strings, now without mutes, composed, when Sir John Barbirolli asked him energy. The second subject is a gentler simple harmonies, or even octaves and underline the rhythm, pizzicato. The cello for a major work; so the first performance was cantabile, but the movement ends stormily, unisons where they are effective. The second enters, molto ritmico, with an effect that is given by Christopher Bunting and The Hallé gathered into a cadenza and then despatched movement follows the first without a break, exuberant and light-hearted before the Orchestra under Barbirolli on 19 July 1955. with four great hammer-blows. and ideas from the first movement inform orchestra quickly takes over, driving the music Those who know Finzi only from his more The slow movement opens in a mood of those in the last. on. A climax on the brass then cuts off to lyrical songs, perhaps even from his Clarinet shy rapture, the song-melody beautifully The cello launches into the passionate first leave the soloist very lightly accompanied, Concerto as well, may be surprised at the unwinding in diatonic security over a theme in the second bar, and it is sustained until again the orchestra regains momentum. breadth and power of this work. But songs persistent tread. But the quieto of the over twenty-four bars. The opening phrase The soloist has introduced two principal such as ‘Channel Firing’ – in effect a seven- direction allows for some strong climaxes and should be noted as it assumes some ideas, with a subsidiary one on the brass soon minute symphonic poem – and ‘He abjures the whole movement is shot through with the importance later. The orchestra answers after the movement began. Now we reach an love’ indicate a wider range, and the Grand melancholy grandeur that informs Finzi’s rhythmically, and the soloist returns with a extended brooding, lyrical trio, signalled by a Fantasia and Toccata for piano and orchestra Intimations of Immortality. scampering passage of running semiquavers. solo flute, in which the cello’s line includes a of 1953 (though the Fantasia dates from The rondo tune is eerily foreshadowed by A lyrical slower theme follows, though semiquaver cell proclaiming its kinship with 1928) is a highly original concerto with a the cello in pizzicato octaves. Most of the recognisably from the same world as the first, the first movement. Eventually the headlong curious, twisted strength. movement is dance-like, though there is a its treatment coloured by an opening major tempo returns, though not without contrasted So the turbulence of the Cello Concerto’s trace of unease in its good cheer with a seventh. These two ideas are developed and episodes, the big orchestral tuttis developed first movement is not unaccountable, even couple of references back to the first build to an orchestral climax after which the without the soloist. Finally the orchestra stops without bearing in mind that Finzi, only in movement. When it sounds to be working to a solo cello, soaring through almost two octaves in full flow for the soloist’s mini-cadenza his fifties, knew that his years were numbered. It cadenza the music surprisingly clears into in the treble clef, reaches a cadenza and is before a vigorous gesture of dismissal from is in traditional, though rhapsodic, sonata form. C major with the rondo theme augmented, gradually joined by the orchestra. The the orchestra. It starts with three brusque chords, tearing at chorale-like, on brass. It then ends on A with a recapitulation is rhythmic and incisive, The full emotional weight of the music, each other in contrary motion, which slice flick and a scamper. featuring the first idea and rising to an however, is saved for the slow finale. The impatiently into the main theme. This, in A imposing climax with the strings playing in cello’s expressive, quietly questing opening minor, at once reaches out to a major sixth, so © Diana McVeagh octaves an inversion of the first two bars of theme is at first unaccompanied, but it is soon 4 5 CHAN 9949 BOOK.qxd 18/7/07 11:04 am Page 6 intensified with ghostly muted violins soaring of the finest available today. He works closely than any other conductor. He has twice been Conductor Emeritus. The Orchestra appears behind as pulsing tympani set up an insistent with leading British composers such as the outright winner of the Gramophone regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival tread. Romantic half-lit horns mark the end of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, James MacMillan, Record of the Year award. In 1983, in and at the BBC Promenade Concerts. The the soloist’s reverie, and the second subject, a Robert Saxton and Sir John Tavener. recognition of his long relationship with the Orchestra has also recorded a varied and close cousin of the first, follows on the oboe. London Philharmonic Orchestra, he was made exciting range of works and in 1990 received a The nocturnal mood is emphasised by muted The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Associate Conductor. As Chief Guest Gramophone Award for the best concerto horns, flute and string tremolandi. An Orchestra’s busy performing schedule includes Conductor he has worked with the BBC recording, on Chandos, with Neeme Järvi and imposing climax follows, but is again cut off to over sixty concerts from September to June in Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Lydia Mordkovitch. Committed to the leave the soloist playing in a twilight the Philharmonic Hall, a regular concert series Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the development of musical talent and appreciation, landscape underpinned by a G sharp pedal on in Preston’s Guild Hall and the Liverpool Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the BBC members of the Orchestra also work with the tympani and double-basses. Unison strings Philharmonic Summer Pops. The Orchestra Concert Orchestra. Other appointments schoolchildren and community groups. march on in an eerie procession until the makes frequent appearances in concert halls include Chief Conductor of the Malmö music fades, like dusk darkening to night, and throughout the United Kingdom and has Symphony Orchestra and the West Australian Born in Scotland, Bryden Thomson studied at closes on the cello’s open C string. performed in Europe, the USA and the Far Symphony Orchestra, and Chief Conductor the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and East. One of the oldest concert-giving and Artistic Director of the Ulster Orchestra. Drama and in Europe with Hans Schmidt- © Lewis Foreman organisations in the world, it dates back to Vernon Handley is currently Conductor Isserstedt and Igor Markevich. He worked with the formation of the Royal Liverpool Emeritus of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as Raphael Wallfisch began playing the cello at Philharmonic Society in 1840. The RLPO has a Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the assistant to Ian Whyte after whose death he the age of eight and, inspired by the artistry distinguished list of previous principal Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He was created undertook some 250 engagements in two of Zara Nelsova, went on to study with such conductors, including Max Bruch, Sir Charles Honorary Fellow of the Royal Philharmonic years. He was Principal Conductor of the BBC eminent teachers as Gregor Piatigorsky, Hallé, Sir Henry Wood, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Society and of Balliol College, Oxford, in 1990 Northern Symphony Orchestra from 1968 to Amaryllis Fleming, Amadeo Baldovino and Sir John Pritchard, Sir Charles Groves, Walter and 1999 respectively. 1973, Principal Conductor and Musical Director Derek Simpson. Aged twenty-four, he won the Weller, David Atherton, Marek Janowski and of the Ulster Orchestra from 1977 to 1985 Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Libor Pesv ek.
Recommended publications
  • A Celebration of Heritage
    Opening Gala A Celebration of Heritage Mise Éire (Orchestral Suite) I Roisín Dubh II Boolavogue III Roisin Dubh/Druim Fhionn Donn Dílis IV Sliabh na mBan V Roisín Dubh Seán Ó Riada (1931-71) Cornucopia for Horn and Orchestra (1969/70) Prelude - Rondo In February of this year, Cork (and indeed, Ireland) lost one of the most intelligent and charismatic musicians to ever grace our shores. Aloys Fleischmann (1910-92) Alan Cutts had a huge influence on the education of literally hundreds of musicians - young and old - and he dedicated his time and expertise in the most humble and selfless manner imaginable. Intimations of Immortality for Tenor, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 29 His rich wealth of knowledge was matched by his modesty and those of us who were lucky enough to study with and learn from him - be it Gerald Finzi (1901-56) in a junior choir or amateur orchestra; as a BMus or MA student at the Cork School of Music; as a member of Madrigal ’75, Wexford Opera Chorus, Irish Youth Choir, Fleischmann Choir; or as part of his many other activities including his appearances at the Cork International Choral Festival - will never forget his wisdom and charm. Cormac Ó hAodáin (French Horn) All of us on stage tonight wish to dedicate this concert to the memory Robin Tritschler (Tenor) of our friend, mentor and colleague, Alan. He is sorely missed but will forever be in our thoughts. Fleischmann Choir Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra The 2015/2016 season of the Fleischmann Choir is also dedicated Maria Ryan (Leader) to Tadge O’Mullane and James Stevens.
    [Show full text]
  • A Festival of Fučík
    SUPER AUDIO CD A Festival of Fučík Royal Scottish National Orchestra Neeme Järvi Lebrecht Music & Arts Photo Library Photo Music & Arts Lebrecht Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík (1872 – 1916) Orchestral Works 1 Marinarella, Op. 215 (1908) 10:59 Concert Overture Allegro vivace – [ ] – Tempo I – Andante – Adagio – Tempo I – Allegro vivo – Più mosso – Tempo di Valse moderato alla Serenata – Tempo di Valse – Presto 2 Onkel Teddy, Op. 239 (1910) 4:53 (Uncle Teddy) Marche pittoresque Tempo di Marcia – Trio – Marcia da Capo al Fine 3 Donausagen, Op. 233 (1909) 10:18 (Danube Legends) Concert Waltz 3 Andantino – Allegretto con leggierezza – Tempo I – Più mosso – Tempo I – Tempo di Valse risoluto – 3:06 4 1 Tempo di Valse – 1:48 5 2 Con dolcezza – 1:52 6 3 [ ] – 1:25 7 Coda. [ ] – Allegretto con leggierezza – Tempo di Valse 2:08 8 Die lustigen Dorfschmiede, Op. 218 (1908) 2:34 (The Merry Blacksmiths) March Tempo di Marcia – Trio – [ ] 9 Der alte Brummbär, Op. 210 (1907)* 5:00 (The Old Grumbler) Polka comique Allegro furioso – Cadenza – Tempo di Polka (lentamente) – Più mosso – Trio. Meno mosso – A tempo (lentamente) – Più mosso – Meno mosso – Più mosso – Meno mosso – Più mosso – [Cadenza] – Più mosso 4 10 Einzug der Gladiatoren, Op. 68 (1899) 2:36 (Entry of the Gladiators) Concert March for Large Orchestra Tempo di Marcia – Trio – Grandioso, meno mosso, tempo trionfale 11 Miramare, Op. 247 (1912) 7:47 Concert Overture Allegro vivace – Andante – Adagio – Allegro vivace 12 Florentiner, Op. 214 (1907) 5:20 Grande marcia italiana Tempo di Marcia – Trio – [ ] 13 Winterstürme, Op.
    [Show full text]
  • Ayr Choral Union 1876-2016
    2 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements are due firstly to past recorders of ACU - the careful writers of revealing minutes of meetings, the “Keepers of the Box”, the hoarders of programmes, letters, news clips and minutiae, and previous Archivists. Tony Kerrigan gave enormous assistance with photographs. Staff at the Ayrshire Archive and Carnegie Library in Ayr have also been most helpful. David Cassels, who produced a 1976 History of ACU, largely based on a 1905 Bazaar programme, provided an excellent starting point. Above all thanks must go to the late Ronnie Brash, historian, enthusiast, tenor, and ACU archivist until 2012, to whom this book is dedicated. Much of the content in this version is taken verbatim from Minutes, reflecting the voices of ACU, and may not always be strictly accurate or objective. October 15th 1976 Ayr Choral Union Centenary Dinner Back row left to right: Colonel Bryce Knox (Hon Vice-President), Angus Rae (Vice-President), David Cassels (President), Professor Robin Orr CBE* (Speaker), Provost Paton, Ex-Provost Lineham (Hon Vice- President), Victor McLeonard (Secretary) Front row left to right: Mrs Rae, Mrs Bryce Knox, Mrs Paton, Mrs Lanham, and Mrs Cassels. *Robin Orr was a noted first Chairman of Scottish Opera, and Professor of Music first at Glasgow, then Cambridge Universities, as well as a being a composer and active supporter of a wide range of musical activities. He died in 2006. 3 CONTENTS Page 1. Introduction 5 2. Beginnings 6 3. 1876-1914 Beginnings to World War 1 8 4. 1914-1939 Word War 1 to World War 2 15 5. 1939-1976 World War 2 to the Centenary 23 6.
    [Show full text]
  • British and Commonwealth Concertos from the Nineteenth Century to the Present
    BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH CONCERTOS FROM THE NINETEENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT A Discography of CDs & LPs Prepared by Michael Herman Composers I-P JOHN IRELAND (1879-1962) Born in Bowdon, Cheshire. He studied at the Royal College of Music with Stanford and simultaneously worked as a professional organist. He continued his career as an organist after graduation and also held a teaching position at the Royal College. Being also an excellent pianist he composed a lot of solo works for this instrument but in addition to the Piano Concerto he is best known for his for his orchestral pieces, especially the London Overture, and several choral works. Piano Concerto in E flat major (1930) Mark Bebbington (piano)/David Curti/Orchestra of the Swan ( + Bax: Piano Concertino) SOMM 093 (2009) Colin Horsley (piano)/Basil Cameron/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra EMI BRITISH COMPOSERS 352279-2 (2 CDs) (2006) (original LP release: HMV CLP1182) (1958) Eileen Joyce (piano)/Sir Adrian Boult/London Philharmonic Orchestra (rec. 1949) ( + The Forgotten Rite and These Things Shall Be) LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LPO 0041 (2009) Eileen Joyce (piano)/Leslie Heward/Hallé Orchestra (rec. 1942) ( + Moeran: Symphony in G minor) DUTTON LABORATORIES CDBP 9807 (2011) (original LP release: HMV TREASURY EM290462-3 {2 LPs}) (1985) Piers Lane (piano)/David Lloyd-Jones/Ulster Orchestra ( + Legend and Delius: Piano Concerto) HYPERION CDA67296 (2006) John Lenehan (piano)/John Wilson/Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra ( + Legend, First Rhapsody, Pastoral, Indian Summer, A Sea Idyll and Three Dances) NAXOS 8572598 (2011) MusicWeb International Updated: August 2020 British & Commonwealth Concertos I-P Eric Parkin (piano)/Sir Adrian Boult/London Philharmonic Orchestra ( + These Things Shall Be, Legend, Satyricon Overture and 2 Symphonic Studies) LYRITA SRCD.241 (2007) (original LP release: LYRITA SRCS.36 (1968) Eric Parkin (piano)/Bryden Thomson/London Philharmonic Orchestra ( + Legend and Mai-Dun) CHANDOS CHAN 8461 (1986) Kathryn Stott (piano)/Sir Andrew Davis/BBC Symphony Orchestra (rec.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Giants of Music
    AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Fall 2004/Winter 2005 Jewish Giants of Music Also: George Washington and the Jews Yiddish “Haven to Home” at the Theatre Library of Congress Posters Milken Archive of American Jewish Music th Anniversary of Jewish 350 Settlement in America AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Fall 2004/Winter 2005 ~ OFFICERS ~ CONTENTS SIDNEY LAPIDUS President KENNETH J. BIALKIN 3 Message from Sidney Lapidus, 18 Allan Sherman Chairman President AJHS IRA A. LIPMAN LESLIE POLLACK JUSTIN L. WYNER Vice Presidents 8 From the Archives SHELDON S. COHEN Secretary and Counsel LOUISE P. ROSENFELD 12 Assistant Treasurer The History of PROF. DEBORAH DASH MOORE American Jewish Music Chair, Academic Council MARSHA LOTSTEIN Chair, Council of Jewish 19 The First American Historical Organizations Glamour Girl GEORGE BLUMENTHAL LESLIE POLLACK Co-Chairs, Sports Archive DAVID P. SOLOMON, Treasurer and Acting Executive Director BERNARD WAX Director Emeritus MICHAEL FELDBERG, PH.D. Director of Research LYN SLOME Director of Library and Archives CATHY KRUGMAN Director of Development 20 HERBERT KLEIN Library of Congress Director of Marketing 22 Thanksgiving and the Jews ~ BOARD OF TRUSTEES ~ of Pennsylvania, 1868 M. BERNARD AIDINOFF KENNETH J. BIALKIN GEORGE BLUMENTHAL SHELDON S. COHEN RONALD CURHAN ALAN M. EDELSTEIN 23 George Washington RUTH FEIN writes to the Savannah DAVID M. GORDIS DAVID S. GOTTESMAN 15 Leonard Bernstein’s Community – 1789 ROBERT D. GRIES DAVID HERSHBERG Musical Embrace MICHAEL JESSELSON DANIEL KAPLAN HARVEY M. KRUEGER SAMUEL KARETSKY 25 Jews and Baseball SIDNEY LAPIDUS PHILIP LAX in the Limelight IRA A. LIPMAN NORMAN LISS MARSHA LOTSTEIN KENNETH D. MALAMED DEBORAH DASH MOORE EDGAR J.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Booklet
    RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra Gerard Schwarz Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Finale. The slow movement was eventually written on greeted without any great interest. The newly acquired Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 1 • Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 32 board ship off Gravesend, where his naval duties had taken technical competence was praised with unusual warmth him. For this movement he made use of a folk-song Pro by César Cui, but seemed to others too academic, a Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov originally intended counterpoint and orchestration, he set to work to make Tatarski Polon (On the Tatar Captivity), a theme provided criticism echoed by Tchaikovsky after a Moscow a naval career, following the example of his elder brother. good these defects in his own musical formation with by Balakirev. The Trio of the Scherzo movement was performance under Nikolay Rubinstein. He revised the He showed some musical ability even as a very small remarkable success. This led him, as the only real added in the autumn of 1865 and the symphony, then in its symphony completely in 1886, two years after his first child, but at the age of fourteen entered the Naval Cadet professional of the nationalist group dominated by original key of E flat minor, was performed under Balakirev revision of the First Symphony. College in St Petersburg in pursuit of a more immediately Balakirev, to undertake the completion and, often, the at one of the concerts of the Free Music School in St The symphony starts with a slow introduction in which attractive ambition.
    [Show full text]
  • 12:00:00A 00:00 Lunes, 29 De Julio De 2019 12A NO
    *Programación sujeta a cambios sin previo aviso* LUNES 29 DE JULIO 2019 12:00:00a 00:00 lunes, 29 de julio de 2019 12A NO - Nocturno 12:00:00a 11:27 Con aires veracruzanos (2010) p/clarinete y guitarra Mauricio Hernández Monterrubio (1972-) Ensamble Due Voci 12:11:27a 23:58 Suite no.4 en Si Bem.May. R.109-117 Gottlieb Muffat (1690-1770) Borbala Dobozy-clavecín 12:35:25a 20:29 Nipson (1998) p/contratenor y 5 violas da gamba John Tavener (1944- ) Ens. Fretwork (violas da gamba) Michael Chance, contratenor 12:55:54a 00:50 Identificación estación 01:00:00a 00:00 lunes, 29 de julio de 2019 1AM NO - Nocturno 01:00:00a 10:13 Concierto p. violín y orq. op.9 no.4 en Si LaMay. Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751) Claudio Scimone I solisti Veneti Astorre Ferrari-violín 01:10:13a 36:59 Sinfonía no.3 en Mi May.op.51 Max Bruch (1838-1920) Manfred Honeck Orquesta del Estado Húngaro 01:47:12a 08:46 Totus Tuus Henryk Gorecki (1933-2010 ) Coro de la Capilla del colegio 01:55:58a 00:50 Identificación estación 02:00:00a 00:00 lunes, 29 de julio de 2019 2AM NO - Nocturno 02:00:00a 14:20 Concierto p/flauta y cuerd. en Re May. Gimo291 Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770) Giorgio Bernasconi Academia instumental italiana Marzio Conti, flauta 02:14:20a 26:03 Caballos de vapor ("Horse power") Carlos Chávez (1899-1978) Eduardo Mata Sinfónica de Londres 02:40:23a 15:50 \Rapsodia India Frederic Hymen Cowen (1852-1935) Adrian Leaper Filarmónica del estado checoeslovaco 02:56:13a 00:50 Identificación estación 03:00:00a 00:00 lunes, 29 de julio de 2019 3AM NO - Nocturno 03:00:00a 14:22 Quinteto p/2 flautas, violín, viola y cello op.7 no.6 en Sol May.
    [Show full text]
  • Sampler Linernts 8 559406.Indd
    Cover Art A MESSAGE FROM THE MILKEN ARCHIVE FOUNDER Dispersed over the centuries to all corners of the earth, the Jewish people absorbed elements of its host cultures while, miraculously, maintaining its own. As many Jews reconnected in America, escaping persecution and seeking to take part in a visionary democratic society, their experiences found voice in their music. The sacred and secular body of work that has developed over the three centuries since Jews first arrived on these shores provides a powerful means of expressing the multilayered saga of American Jewry. My personal interest in music and deep abiding commitment to synagogue life and the Jewish people united as I developed an increasing appreciation for the quality and tremendous diversity of music written for or inspired by the American Jewish experience. Through discussions with contemporary Jewish composers and performers during the 1980s, I realized that while much of this music had become a vital force in American and world culture, even more music of specifically Jewish content had been created, perhaps performed, and then lost to current and future generations. Believing that there was a unique opportunity to rediscover, preserve, and transmit the collective memory contained within this music, the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music was founded in 1990. This project would unite the Jewish people’s eternal love of music with their commitment to education, a commitment shared by the Milken Family Foundation since our founding in 1982. The passionate collaboration of many distinguished artists, ensembles, and recording producers has created a vast repository of musical resources to educate, entertain, and inspire people of all faiths and cultures.
    [Show full text]
  • Cellist Raphael Wallfisch Performs Finzi's Cello Concerto at Opening
    Cellist Raphael Wallfisch performs Finzi’s Cello Concerto at opening concert of the 2015 English Music Festival following release of new Hungarian CD Programme: 22 May 2015 HUBERT PARRY Jerusalem Dorchester Abbey RICHARD ARNELL Overture The New Age (UK English Music Festival premiere) FREDERICK DELIUS Three Short Tone Poems RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Bucolic Suite BBC Concert Orchestra GEORGE BUTTERWORTH Fantasia for Orchestra Martin Yates conductor (completed & orchestrated by Martin Yates) Raphael Wallfisch cello GERALD FINZI Cello Concerto “The performances are quite outstandingly eloquent, the sound sumptuous and true” – Gramophone Magazine Firmly positioned at the forefront of championing British music of the 20th century, renowned cellist Raphael Wallfisch performs Gerald Finzi’s Cello Concerto in A minor, a piece with which Wallfisch has a profound personal attachment, at Dorchester Abbey with the BBC Concert Orchestra on 22 May in the opening concert of the 2015 English Music Festival. The concert includes the UK premiere of Richard Arnell’s Overture The New Age. Wallfisch’s recording of the Finzi Cello Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on Chandos released in 1986 is widely recognised as the seminal recording of the work. BBC Radio 3’s CD Review hailed Wallfisch as “a superb soloist” who “gets to the warm heart of this work.” Wallfisch performed the concerto at the 2001 BBC Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Richard Hickox. As Wallfisch explains: “I have had the opportunity during the course of my career, to explore and rediscover real gems of our repertoire by over 40 British composers. The Elgar Cello Concerto has become the most popular British cello concerto thanks to the amazing work of Jacqueline du Pre, but I feel the Finzi concerto outdoes the Elgar both in technical challenges and emotional purpose.” Although best known as a choral composer, Finzi also wrote some large-scale works including his concertos for cello and clarinet.
    [Show full text]
  • National Library of Ireland Nuacht
    Number 38: Winter 2009 NEWS The Library’s latest exhibition, Discover your National Library: Explore, Reflect, Connect provides a unique opportunity for the public to view first-hand a representative selection of the Library’s holdings – the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Irish documentary material numbering almost eight million items including maps, prints, drawings, manuscripts, photographs, books, newspapers and periodicals. Among the artefacts currently on display are rare manuscripts such as the Book of Maguaran dating from the Middle Ages and a deed signed by Sir Walter Raleigh. There are also curiosities such as a 1795 lottery ticket (we don’t know if it won), and more contemporary items such as a set of cigarette cards illustrated by Jack Yeats from the 1930s. 2009 marked the Bogs Commission bicentenary, an event which the exhibition celebrates by focusing on the achievements of the 18th century and early 19th century pioneers who managed to produce large and very detailed maps of Ireland’s bogs in the period before the advent of the Ordnance Survey. The effort to survey the bogs was driven by the need to see if it was feasible to grow crops such as corn or hemp on Ireland’s bogs, at a time when the English government was fighting the Napoleonic wars and suffering economic shortages. Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann National Library of Ireland Throughout, the exhibition makes extensive use of digital media, with special features including a series of screened talks by the Library’s curators describing the significance or importance of certain exhibition items.
    [Show full text]
  • Rsno.Org.Uk Rsno.Org.Uk/SEASON1516
    2015:16 USHER HALL, EDINBURGH rsno.org.uk rsno.org.uk/SEASON1516 Subscribe SCOTLAND’S AND SAVE NATIONAL Save up to 35% when you subscribe to the Season! Simply choose a minimum of four concerts and you can start saving money. Book ORCHESTRA today using the pull-out booking form at the centre of the brochure. Celebrating 125 years of great music! Exclusive reception In 2016 the RSNO Subscribe to all eighteen Season concerts and you will receive an invitation to an exclusive reception with RSNO reaches an exciting Principal Timpanist Martin Gibson. milestone in its history – its 125th birthday! Since 1891 the Orchestra has enjoyed performing PETER OUNDJIAN BIRTHDAY BOYS: across Scotland and CONDUCTS CHORAL PROKOFIEV AND MASTERPIECES PORTER beyond with some of the We couldn’t celebrate 125 The RSNO isn’t alone years of great music without celebrating 125 years finest musicians of the the wonderful singers of the of glorious music. Sergei RSNO Chorus. Music Director Prokofiev and Cole Porter were day – and this Season we Peter Oundjian directs three also born in 1891 and so we’ll continue that tradition. large-scale choral masterpieces be sharing some of their finest throughout the Season. Make music with you across the Join us as we celebrate sure you don’t miss Mahler’s Season. Prokofiev’s Cinderella Resurrection Symphony, and Romeo and Juliet both our birthday and look Vaughan Williams’ Sea feature, and we’re especially Symphony and Beethoven’s thrilled that Nikolai Lugansky forward to another 125 Ninth Symphony Choral, which is joining us to perform all five brings the first half of our of Prokofiev’s piano concertos years of great music.
    [Show full text]
  • THE UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY and SEATTLE SYMPHONY MAESTRO
    2009-2010 presents Side- by- Side THE UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY and SEATTLE SYMPHONY MAESTRO GERARD SCHWARZ, conductor with guest artist FRANÇOISE PAPILLON, piano February 23, 2010 8:00 PM Meany Theater PROGRAM PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 IN G MAJOR, OP. 58..................................... L. V. BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Françoise Papillon, piano INTERMISSION EIN HELDENLEBEN ("A HERO'S LIFE"), OP. 40 .................................. RICHARD STRAUSS (1864-1949) BEETHOVEN’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 IN G, Op. 58 was the last concerto composed for Beetho- ven himself as soloist. It was premiered in the Theater an der Wien on December 22, 1808, at a concert of epic proportions: the program also included the premieres of his Choral Fantasy and both the fifth and sixth symphonies, as well as selections from the Mass in C, the concert aria Ah! perfidio and the obligatory keyboard improvisations by the composer. Contemporary accounts have the concert lasting four hours. A more typical concerto would begin with the full orchestra stating the themes of the exposi- tion loud and clear before the soloist enters. Here however the piano opens the piece with a relaxed, peaceful solo statement, almost as if the composer is still sketching ideas. The four-note rhythmic motive may sound familiar since Beethoven also employed it in his fifth symphony and the Appassionata sonata, Op. 57. Although spirited, the first movement retains a sense of peace throughout. The second movement, however, disturbs that peace abruptly with a stark, almost militaristic unison string entrance. The piano responds with a distant, almost angelic theme. This exchange continues, slowly coming together like an argument transforming into a discus- sion, a gradual meeting of the minds.
    [Show full text]