The Portsmouth Philharmonic Orchestra presents a CHARITY CONCERT in aid of Cystic Fibrosis.
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A Major Op. 92
ROSSINI Thieving Magpie Overture
HUMPERDINCK Hansel & Gretel Overture
Conductor: Hugh Carpenter
Leader: Colin Wilkins
Rimsky-Korsakov: ‘Sadko’ Op. 5
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35, with Alexandra Lomeiko
Borodin: Symphony No. 2 in B minor
Conductor: Jonathan Butcher
Arrive early to enjoy … 6.30pm–7.00pm: Pre-concert talk in the main hall
Overture Le Carnaval romain – Berlioz
The Swan of Tuonela – Sibelius
Variations on a Nursery Song – Dohnányi
Soloist: Florian Mitrea (pictured)
Symphony No. 1 in D – Mahler
Oaklands School Hall Nursery rhymes reinvented by classical composers! Plus the spectacle of a Roman Carnival and the mysticism of the Finnish mythological underworld.
Hungarian composer Dohnányi wrote his Variations on a Nursery Tune in 1914, but which tune is it? Come along to hear it and find out! You’ll also spot a famous children’s song (slightly altered!) in Mahler’s great Symphony No. 1. A couple of blockbusters open the programme: Berlioz’ sparkling Roman Carnival Overture and Sibelius’ The Swan of Tuonela, which portrays a story from Finnish folklore.
Our piano soloist for the Dohnányi is Florian Mitrea – a Romanian-born pianist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and now has an international career as a concert pianist. You will not be disappointed!
Conductor: Stefano Boccacci
Tone poem Finlandia, Op. 26 – Sibelius
Andante and Hungarian Rondo for Viola and Orchestra, J. 79 – Weber
Romance for Viola and Orchestra, Op. 85 – Bruch
Soloist: Nia Thomas (pictured)
Symphony No. 4 – Schumann
Traditional pre-season ‘Popular Classics’
Our season opener this year features the viola as the solo instrument! The gorgeous warm tones of the viola are brought to the fore in two contrasting pieces – the lively Andante and Hungarian Rondo by Weber and the heart-on-sleeve Romance by Bruch. Our soloist, Nia Thomas, is a talented student from the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama.
Havant Symphony Orchestra opens the concert with the proud Finnish anthem Finlandia by Sibelius, with its stirring brass and lush melodies. Concluding the concert will be the Symphony No. 4 by archetypal romantic composer Robert Schumann, published in its final version just 5 years before his tragic death.
Our September concert is traditionally conducted by the outgoing holder of our Bob Harding Bursary for Student Conductors, so doing the honours this year will be Stefano Boccacci. Stefano is definitely one to watch for the future – see him live here first!
Conductor – Simon Wilkins; Leader – Catherine Lawlor; Soloist – Maria Luc
Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture ‘The Creatures of Prometheus’ (1800)
Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, known as ‘The Emperor Concerto’ (1811) – Soloist – Maria Luc
The Creatures of Prometheus is Beethoven’s only ballet music, from which this relatively short overture, reminiscent of Mozart, is the opening section. By contrast, his Fifth piano concerto is hugely substantial both in length and content. Indeed, its subtitle is not named after any particular monarch but simply for the scale of the work and its sense of nobility in contrast to the stormy character of Beethoven’s other music. Unusually for the time the solo pianist enters at the very beginning, with a series of flourishes that precede the movement proper. The adagio is one of the most tender movements Beethoven ever composed and links directly to the rondo finale without a break.
Chichester Symphony Orchestra would like to thank George IdeLLP Solicitors for supporting this afternoon’s concert.
Today’s soloist is Maria Luc, a 23 year-old British pianist from Chichester. She is currently studying for her Masters of Music at the Royal Northern College of Music with Ashley Wass. She obtained a first class BMus (Hons) degree with Helen Krizos. Maria is supported by the Dorothy Stone Award, Help Musicians UK and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. Maria won the international Norah Sande Award piano competition in 2017.
Maria has been a concerto soloist with the Helix Ensemble in Nottingham and has played at such venues as the Wigmore Hall and Wales Millenium Centre. Maria also regularly performs with Wyn Chan. They have toured the U.K. with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring including performances at the South Downs Summer Music Festival, the RNCM Chamber Music Festival and most recently at Liverpool Cathedral for the LightNight Festival.
Outside of music, Maria is passionate about veganism and enjoys walking, cycling and yoga.
Dvorak – Slavonic Dances
Brahms – Violin Concerto
Dvorak – Symphony No. 5
Conductor: Simon Wilkins
Catherine Lawlor will be the soloist in Brahms’ violin concerto. Catherine is a brilliant young violinist who has studied and performed extensively in this country as well as Europe, Asia and the USA.
Part of the Festival of Chichester.
Read a preview and a review.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B flat major
Ravel: ‘Tombeau de Couperin’
Weber: Bassoon Concerto in F major, with Richard Moore
Leader: Helen Purchase
Guest conductor: Robin Browning
Free pre-concert talk at 6:30pm: meet the bassoon and tonight’s bassoonist.