Previous Concert

Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture features tunes based on Russian Orthodox chants, and the mood ranges from solemnity to exuberant celebration.  The Firebird is one of Stravinsky’s early ballets, retelling an ancient Russian folk tale in which we meet a villainous ogre, imprisoned princesses and the magical Firebird.  The gorgeous melodies and colourful orchestration remind us that Stravinsky was one of Rimsky-Korsakov’s pupils.  The Symphonic Dances was Rachmaninov’s final composition, and his continuing obsession with the Dies Irae chant and Russian church music conveys his sense of impending doom.  The brilliant scoring includes a piano, alto saxophone and large percussion section.  A succession of lyrical melodies, a waltz [...]

‘Winter Wonderland’ Bath Symphony Orchestra presents a programme of winter themed music for all the family.  Drawing from fairy tale operas, ballet and film music we will present music portraying, amongst others, a wicked witch with a gingerbread house, a fictitious military officer on a fast winter’s journey with a traditional Russian three-horse sled, and the most evocative musical Christmas character of them all—the Sugar Plum Fairy! Add in musical evocations of winter landscapes and sleigh rides and we promise you a perfect winter afternoon’s musical entertainment.

Our Czech programme opens with the fourth of Smetana’s cycle of patriotic tone poems, Má Vlast. From Bohemia’s Forests and Meadows conjures up the feelings inspired by the Czech landscape, from the grandeur of great forests to the exuberance of village festivals. Viola player Laura Sinnerton joins the orchestra for Martinů’s melodic Rhapsody Concerto. Martinůe migrated to the USA in 1941 and the many Moravian folk tunes he employs express his longing for his native Czechoslovakia. Dvořák’s carefree Eighth Symphony is steeped in the atmosphere of the Czech countryside and features hunting horns, bird calls and lively folk tunes. Along [...]