SATURDAY APRIL 9th
‘German-Soviet Counterpoint’
Guest Artist – Benjamin Martin | Piano

Kabalevsky	Colas Breugnon Overture
Schumann	Piano Concerto No 1
Beethoven	Coriolan Overture
Shostakovich	Symphony No 9
Wagner	Ride of the Valkyries

The aptness of this concert’s title is underscored by the largest, most expressively rich and varied work of the program, Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony. It was originally intended to be a celebration of the Russian victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Yet, it owes more to the spirit of the “German” part of the program represented in the 19th century works of Beethoven, Schumann and Wagner than it does to any repudiation of the German people.
It is undoubtedly true that the true inheritors of the great German Romantic tradition were not those of the West, but the celebrated Russian composers of the Soviet era.

SATURDAY JULY 2nd & SUNDAY JULY 3rd
‘Czech-Mate’
Guest Artist – Thomas Rann | Violoncello

Janáček	Źárlivost
Dvořák	Cello Concerto
Dvořák	Symphony No 9. “From the New World”

The great Czech composers Janáček and Dvořák are products of the Romantic musical tradition, but they represent its later flowering towards a proud nationalism. This trend, exemplified compellingly in this program, shows itself in the incorporation of folk elements into the complex, expressively nuanced, symphonic language inherited from Brahms and Wagner.

The best known and most popular work of the program, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, makes use of the American spiritual genre in the creation of the beautiful and memorable melodies of this grand musical edifice. Dvořák himself is quoted as saying: “In the Negro melodies of America, I discover all that is needed for a great and noble school of music..”

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17th & SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18th
‘Fantasy & Legends’
Guest Artist – Natsuko Yoshimoto | Violin

Gregson-Williams	Chronicles of Narnia: Symphonic Suite
Bruch	Scottish Fantasy
Beethoven	Symphony No 1
Copland	Billy the Kid

A richly varied program gives an opportunity to display the outstanding talent of renowned violinist Natsuko Yoshimoto, as soloist in Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy. This is a work that weaves into its four movement structure such Scottish folk tunes as Tuttie Tatie, Auld Robert Morris, The Dusty Miller and I’m Down for Lack of Johnny.

In like fashion, Copland’s Billy the Kid incorporates cowboy tunes, notably The Open Prairie, and American folk songs.

The striking potency of Beethoven’s First Symphony, with Natsuko Yoshimoto directing as guest concertmaster, provides the ideal foil to the rich symphonic film score of the Narnia Chronicles Symphonic Suite.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 4th
‘Latin Élan’
Guest Artist – Jody Fisher | Guitar

Reveultas	La Noche de los Mayas
Rodrigo	Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar
Piazzolla	Mar del Plata 70
Saint-Saëns	La Jota Aragonese
Ravel	Rhapsodie Espagnole

The influence of Latin American and Spanish folk traditions on classical music of the late 19th century and beyond has been profound. Saint-Saëns and Ravel, coming from outside of the tradition, sourced from it a rich vein of musical possibilities. And to this the joyful celebration of nature that is the Rodrigo guitar Concierto, the “shockingly primitive” score of Mexican composer Revueltas, the infectious sense of rhythm from the famous tango composer, Piazzolla, and the weaving of a wonderfully rich and colourful musical tapestry is assured.