2017
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Tuesday 24 January 2017, 7.30pm, Cheltenham Town Hall
Taiwanese violinist Hsien and Dutch conductor Hermus bring their international flair to tonight’ s concert, spanning two musical eras and two strongly nationalistic 19th century styles. Mozart represents the 18th century, with the last of his five violin concertos- composed in 1775 in Salzburg. Its rondo finale, similar in feel to his famous Rondo alla Turca, gives the piece its nickname-‘ The Turkish’. Smetana’ s Bartered Bride is one of the most vibrant and virtuosic of 19th century overtures, filled with the flavour of his native Czechoslovakia. While Dvorak’ s penultimate symphony is sometimes the subject of discussion: some say it possesses many of the traits of his 9th(‘ The New World’), others claim it has the same strong Czech flavour that runs through Smetana’ s works. Dvorak composed it at his summer house in Bohemia in 1889, 3 years before he even set foot in America- tonight you can decide for yourself!
Pre-Concert Talk( 6.30pm to 7pm): Antony Hermus is interviewed as an introduction to tonight’ s programme. Supported by The Hattori Foundation for Music & The Arts.
CONDUCTOR Antony Hermus VIOLIN Rose Hsien SMETANA Overture, The Bartered Bride
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K219 DVORAK Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Friday 24 February 2017, 7.30pm, Cheltenham Town Hall
Having departed Dresden and the shadow of Wagner, a reinvigorated Schumann completed two major works in just three months in 1850, both performed tonight. However, while the symphony had acclaimed performances in Germany, the concerto remained unplayed until after his death, championed by his widow, Clara, who wrote in her diary,‘ I have played Robert’ s concerto again … the romantic quality, freshness and humour are indeed ravishing.’ The symphony is equally exhilarating, with moments of both joyous rapture and grand solemnity. Lohengrin was Wagner’ s first recognised masterpiece. The Act I Prelude is a musical depiction of the Holy Grail descending to Earth in the care of an angelic host, whilst that of Act III, containing just about the most ostentatious music Wagner wrote, sets the scene for Lohengrin’ s wedding.
Pre-Concert Talk( 6.30pm to 7pm): Presented by BSO’ s Head of Concerts, Heather Duncan.
CONDUCTOR Kirill Karabits CELLO Steven Isserlis WAGNER Prelude, Lohengrin( Act 1) SCHUMANN Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129 WAGNER Prelude, Lohengrin( Act 3) SCHUMANN Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 97, Rhenish
September 2016- June 2017 7