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Full 2010/11 Seasons
French Horn - Grade 8+ Standard For Details Contact: Roy Stratford 07788 101740
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WSO at the HG Wells |
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2010/2011 Season's Highlights
Two great Russian concertos from the 20th Century feature in our new season's programme, the 1st Cello Concerto of Shostakovitch in November, which is one of that composer's most approachable and exciting works, and the 1st violin concerto of Prokofiev, a dazzling and colourful piece first performed in 1923. Our Cellist Joy Lisney, is already a seasoned performer and one of the most gifted of young British cellists. Emily Davis, winner of Woking Young Musician 2010, will join us for the Prokofiev in March.
In November we will be performing the beguiling and exotically scored Symphonic Dances, the last major composition by Rachmaninov, which was first performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy in 1941. It is a magnificent piece, mixing driving rhythms with luscious melodies and could be described as his orchestral masterpiece. If you are familiar with the 2nd Piano Concerto, you will not be disappointed by this wonderful work; something of America seems to have lodged in Rachmaninov's deeply Russian soul here.
For the ever popular Family concert in January we are presenting another popular work by Prokofiev - Peter & the Wolf, narrated by one of Britain's best-loved actresses - Niamh Cusack. We will also be featuring Saint-Saens's "Danse Macabre" - as the church clock strikes twelve, death is sitting on a tombstone tuning his fiddle calling the dead forth from their graves to dance through the night until the sound of a cock-crow is heard. and the dead scurry back to their graves and the vision fades away in the light of dawn. As always, after the performance, children (and even older members of the audience) will be welcome to meet the orchestra on stage and try out the instruments.
In June, we will be giving the World Premiere of a new piece, commissioned by WSO from Stephen Frost. A selection of Stephen's music, including concertos for oboe and bassoon, was recorded by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Chandos, an unusual honour for any composer these days. His music is conceived very melodically and is extremely audience-friendly. This promises to be a very exciting evening.
Our other two symphonic works this season, Beethoven's 6th "Pastoral", and Bramhs's 1st Symphony find us in more familiar territory.
Roy Stratford, Conductor |
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