2017
2017
ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN
Friday 21 April 2017, 7.30pm, Cheltenham Town Hall
The second visit this season from Stratford-based Orchestra of the Swan is graced by the
stunning youthful talents of Laura van der Heijden, winner of the BBC Young Musician of the
Year in 2012 at the age of just 15. Tchaikovsky’s theme and eight variations uses a reduced
orchestra, mimicking its origins - although the main theme isn’t actually rococo at all, merely a
stylistic homage, though a clever and beautiful one!
The evening’s finale is the magnificent and hugely popular final symphony by Mendelssohn,
which he began after his inspirational visit to Scotland in 1829 - although it subsequently took
him 13 years to complete. Best known for its stirring opening theme and first movement, it is a
regular Town Hall favourite, and sure to be so again tonight.
Pre-Concert Talk (6.30pm to 7pm): Presented by conductor, David Curtis.
CONDUCTOR
David Curtis
CELLO
Laura van der
Heijden
ARENSKY
Variations on
a Theme by
Tchaikovsky
TCHAIKOVSKY
Rococo Variations
for Cello &
Orchestra
MENDELSSOHN
Symphony No.4 in
A major, Italian
ORCHESTRA OF THE
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC
AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT ORCHESTRA
Friday 19 May 2017, 7.30pm,
Cheltenham Town Hall
Thursday 15 June 2017, 7.30pm,
Cheltenham Town Hall
The Brandenburgs stand out among the rest of the
Baroque repertoire as the pre-eminent masterpieces
of the style and technique that characterised the
era. The six concerti grossi display Bach’s genius,
structural mastery and emotional rawness, to the
fullest extent the period would allow.
Tonight OAE returns to Cheltenham with a quartet
that forms possibly the most famous and popular
of the six Brandenburgs, including the much-loved
2nd and 3rd, each opening with a bouncing rhythmic
pattern and typically jaunty Baroque melody.
OAE is unique among British orchestras, stressing
the ensemble nature of their work above the
individual, while recruiting from the most talented
and charismatic players in the profession. The
Brandenburgs have been an important part of their
history since a landmark recording 25 years ago, and
tonight’s concert provides a rare chance to hear four
of them revived in their original glory.
Glinka’s overture to his operatic masterpiece,
Ruslan and Ludmila, is full of upbeat exuberance
and warm lyricism, making it the perfect opener
to this exciting final concert of the Series.
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, meanwhile, is
a masterpiece of the genre, bridging the gap
between Classical and Romantic concerto styles
with elegance and wit, and culminating in a zesty
finale that fully explores the instrument’s range.
The 16-17 Series concludes with Shostakovich’s
imposing Fifth Symphony. Filled with wonderful
melodies and stirring rhythms, it bursts with
power and rebellious beauty. Writing under
Stalin’s constricting Soviet regime, Shostakovich
created a blend of satire and submission that
intrigues audiences to this day.
Pre-Concert Talk (6.30pm to 7pm): Presented
by OAE’s Chief Executive, Crispin Woodhead, with
members of the orchestra.
J S BACH
Brandenburg Concerto
No.2 in F major
Brandenburg Concerto
No.3 in G major
10
September 2016 - June 2017
Pre-Concert Talk (6.30pm to 7pm):
Conductor, Martyn Brabbins, is interviewed
in this introduction to tonight’s programme.
CONDUCTOR
Martyn Brabbins
Brandenburg Concerto
No.4 in G major
VIOLIN
Jan Mracek
Brandenburg Concerto
No.6 in B flat major
GLINKA
Ruslan and Ludmila
Overture
BEETHOVEN
Violin Concerto in
D major, Op.61
SHOSTAKOVICH
Symphony No.5 in
D minor
September 2016 - June 2017
11