Concert

We are delighted to welcome back star young soloist Maxim Calver to play Elgar’s much loved Cello Concerto. Elgar’s concert overture  In the South (Alassio) was inspired by a family holiday on the Italian Riviera and conjures up everything from ‘Joy of Life (wine and macaroni),’ through Mediterranean storms and romantic ruins with shepherds, to Roman armies on the march.  Our programme ends with Hindemith’s most popular work, the Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Maria von Weber – a colourful and exuberant orchestral tour de force featuring marches, fugues and variations on a Chinese folk song. Praised for the [...]

We join forces with Bath Bach Choir to perform Beethoven’s mighty Choral Symphony.  Beethoven was the first composer to introduce voices into a symphony with a setting of Schiller’s Ode to Joy. Another innovator, Liszt was the first composer to use the term ‘symphonic poem’ to describe a work linked to some extra-musical idea.  Les Préludes draws on a poem by Lamartine on the theme of love and war. Bath Bach Choir will perform Ešenvalds’ setting of Longfellow’s poem A Shadow, which showcases his powerful use of rich and glorious melody. The 8-part choir, accompanied by the gentle chimes of [...]

Viv McLean makes a welcome return as soloist in Rachmaninov’s powerful and romantic Piano Concerto No. 2. Written as the composer emerged from a three year writer’s block, it has enjoyed enduring popularity ever since. It took Brahms a mere four months to compose his Symphony No. 2 during a summer holiday by an Austrian lake.  Its sunny and lyrical character has earned it the title ‘Pastoral’. Louise Farrenc was Professor of Piano at the Paris Conservatoire from the 1840s and is now regaining the notice she deserves.  Her dramatic and colourful concert Overture No. 2 is in operatic style. [...]