WELCOME
Welcome to the 2013 / 14 Classical Season where worldclass precision and excellence, paired with stunning, crystalclear acoustics are the foundations of every performance.
Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of Sage Gateshead, is joined by a star-studded roster of guest ensembles and artists for a programme packed full of exciting, beautiful and fascinating concerts with music from the 16th to 21st centuries, from Stravinsky to Sleigh-Ride.
With a typically varied programme Thomas Zehetmair, Northern Sinfonia’ s longest serving Music Director, embarks on his 12th and final season at the helm. Known for his dedication to style and interpretation, he leads the orchestral programme at Sage Gateshead and conducts Northern Sinfonia in their debut series at Milton Court, London. Marking their 40th anniversary, Northern Sinfonia Chorus also joins Thomas and the orchestra for three significant and memorable concerts as well as performing under their founding Chorus Master Alan Fearon.
Thomas Zehetmair
In 2013 the country remembers its most celebrated composer, Benjamin Britten, and in the first half of the season we follow suit featuring his music in Hall One, Hall Two and through our Join In projects. In the spring and summer months we focus on internationally-renowned British composer John Casken with a series of performances that culminate in the world premiere of his new concerto for violin and viola‘ That Subtle Knot’. Opera North concludes its epic Ring Cycle with the dramatic and powerful‘ Götterdämmerung’ and we turn our attention to a new programme cycle: Beethoven’ s complete Piano Sonatas. From the grandeur of Wagner in Hall One, we look to the intimate setting of Hall Two for this fascinating set of works performed over several seasons by the celebrated Palestinian-Israeli pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar.
Among the many wonderful guests of Northern Sinfonia are leading instrumentalists who each perform a concerto and then conduct the orchestra for the first time, bringing their unrivalled musicality to the podium. Violinist Julian Rachlin performs Mendelssohn, pianist Lars Vogt takes on Mozart and Beethoven and astounding trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger presents Bach, Haydn and Stravinsky.
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