HSOâs 2024 Concert Series opens with captivating storytelling from musical masters in Tales of the Wonderous. Rimsky-Korsakov is renowned for magical evergreen melodies, shimmering colours and heart stopping dramatic moments. The Tale of Tsar Saltan is an opera based on Pushkinâs 1831 fairy-tale poem about betrayal and two jealous sisters. Operatic star Teddy Tahu Rhodes … Continued
The Modern Age reminds us of the surge in imagination in art, science and politics during the1900s and 1930s and the vast innovations in music. Shostakovichâs first ballet The Golden Age is a satirical take on the cultural and political uproar in Europe and Soviet Union in the late 1920s, fizzing along like a Charlie … Continued
HSO celebrates its affinity with contemporary American composer, Michael Daugherty with the Australian Premiere of his 2022 work, Valley of the Moon. A work reminiscent of the majestic redwood forests of Sonoma County in California, it highlights how music amplifies our appreciation of the natural world. Holstâs Fugal Overture to his opera The Perfect Fool, … Continued
Themes & Variations explores the range of interpretation and inventiveness of composers. Coplandâs The Red Pony Suite is based on John Steinbeckâs beautiful story of a boy and his horse. Crussellâs works are noted for their lyricism, rich harmonies and craftsmanship. Rossini composed Introduction,Theme and Variations at the age of 18, remaining a virtuosic staple … Continued
Gershwinâs symphonic overture and Gouldâs Guaracha embody the essence of the Cuban dance. Handelâs work Largo of Love, Ombra Mai Fu exemplifies the enormous power music has to lift and move oneâs spirit. As a composer of opera, Mozart has never been surpassed and there are moments in Marriage of Figaro opera that rival his … Continued
One of Australiaâs most celebrated composers, Carl Vineâs V (vee) refers to the Roman numeral, hence the five-minute duration of this short orchestral fanfare. Griegâs Piano Concerto in A minor is one of the most frequently performed and loved piano concertos, combining both classical and folk music traditions. Only aged 25 at the time of … Continued
Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra’s ever-popular Children’s Concerts will be performing the classic story of Peter & the Wolf. Famously narrated by the likes of Dame Edna Everage, David Bowie and Sir David Attenborough, Peter & the Wolf has won the hearts of children and adults all over the world. A fantastic opportunity to introduce children (and … Continued
Glazanovâs Autumn from the ballet The Seasons is best known for its fervent and rhapsodic bacchanals; inventive, fresh, attractive and beautifully scored. Debussyâs Danse SacrĂ©e et Danse Profane was commissioned to explore the chromatic potential of the harp and remains one of the finest chamber works written. Rodrigoâs Guitar Concierto de Aranjuez (version for harp) … Continued
Dvorak spent 1892-1895 in the United States, during which time the Cello Concerto in B minor was composed. One of his most personal works, it reflects his affection for his sister-in-law Josefina, even revising the finale to include a meditation in her memory when she died upon his return to Bohemia. Despite its popularity and … Continued
HSO opens the 2022 Concert Series with Euphoria, a kaleidoscopic program celebrating a long-awaited return to the stage. Shostakovichâs rarely performed Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Themes commemorates his visit to Kirghizstan in 1963. The Promise of Living forms the beautiful finale to the first act of Coplandâs The Tender Land opera; his Hymn … Continued
HSO presents a rich program of rare and captivating works in Five Days Five Nights. Elizabeth Sellars (violin) and Molly Kadarauch (cello) join HSO for the first time to perform Brahmsâ sumptuous Double Concerto. Shostakovichâs music for 1961 film, Five Days, Five Nights, follows the story of soldiers at the end of World War II … Continued
Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofieff On Sunday, July 31 at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm at Ivanhoe Girls Performing Arts Centre Narrated by Christopher Carolane & conducted by Yuki Goh Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra’s ever-popular Children’s Concerts are back in 2022 to tell the classic story of Peter & the Wolf. Famously narrated by … Continued
One of the last works written by German composer Richard Strauss was his Oboe concerto in D Major. Strauss was inspired to write this work by John de Lancie, an American serviceman who in civilian life was a professional Oboist. After World War II the American army moved into the Bararian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There … Continued
In the final concert for 2022, Nightscapes showcases the romance of Rachmaninoff and contemporary soundscapes inspired by photography of 1950s. Rachmaninoff was considered to be one of the finest pianists of his day and one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian Classical music. His Symphonic Dance No. 1 is a work that … Continued
Dance of the Knights, also known as âMontagues and Capuletsâ is a score from Prokofieffâs ballet Romeo & Juliet. With its strong horns, stirring bass, and energetic strings, this composition is one of his most popular works. GliĂšreâs Harp Concerto is beautifully crafted and packed full of delicious and alluring melodies. Stylistically, it is reminiscent … Continued
Gouldâs Star-Spangled Overture is the opening piece of a six- movement orchestral suite called American Ballads, written for the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. Hummelâs Grand Bassoon Concerto is reminiscent of concertos written by Mozart and Haydn. It adheres to classical forms, but (as indicated by the title) they are elevated to almost symphonic dimensions. Mozartâs … Continued
New Horizons reveals sounds of new worlds while drawing on colours of the past. HSO Artist in Residence, Natsuko Yoshimoto performs Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto, a work whose forms echo the Baroque era, while its themes are alive with a multitude of Stravinskyâs spectacular tricks. Michael Daugherty’s Radio City (2011) is a large-scale symphonic tribute to … Continued
Joyeuse Marche was considered a masterpiece of high fantasy and according to Debussy, filled to overflowing with bold and colourful innovations and with the good-natured humour characteristic of Chabrier. Manuel de Fallaâs Nights in the Gardens of Spain was originally a set of nocturnes that evolved into a three-movement set of exotic symphonic impressions for … Continued
KetĂšlbeyâs Sanctuary of the Heart is based on an old melody used as the traditional chant for the Kol Nidrei during the Jewish liturgy. Saint-SĂ€ensâ Bacchanale is a percussion-driven, celebratory dance from Samson & Delilah, the only one of his operas still regularly performed. Haydnâs Oboe Concerto has many long phrases, requiring dexterity and stamina … Continued
Leonard Bernstein continues to be one of the most widely performed composers of the twentieth century. Candide is an operetta and is in the musical tradition of Broadway theatre, yet the overture has become a staple of the symphonic orchestral repertoire. South American-born Marquezâs composition, DanzĂłn No. 2, is a distinctive urban dance from the … Continued
Huapango is a form of Mexican mariachi music with its typical sound of trumpets and string instruments. Moncayoâs Huapango is the unofficial second national anthem of Mexico and has entered into the classical symphonic repertory. Intermezzo, by Granados, one of Spainâs most important composers, creates a haunting and hypnotic melody in this orchestral interlude and … Continued
ABC 2013 Young Performer of the Year, pianist Hoang Pham returns to HSO in another powerful program in celebration of HSOâs 40th Anniversary year. The Year 1917 concert shines light on the extraordinary artistic and political landscape of Russia from the late 19th to the 20th centuries. One of Australiaâs finest concert pianists, Hoang Pham … Continued
Thomsonâs music for the documentary, The River, a film which focused on the abuses of Americaâs waterways, culminating in the catastrophic Mississippi River flood  of 1937. Video footage of this film will be  shown as this work is performed, with kind  permission granted by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. The following two works for … Continued
The jagged melodies, sharp percussion gestures and machine-like rhythmic patterns of Mosolovâs Iron Foundry contrast starkly with the sombre depths of emotion explored by Rachmaninoff in his second piano  concerto. This is a work that the great tenor Jose Carreras, who listened to it repeatedly during his recovery from cancer, calls âhealing musicâ. Vaughan … Continued
Coplandâs invigoratingly energetic and buoyant open-air piece, An Outdoor Overture, is in stark contrast to Prokofievâs 2nd Violin Concerto, which intones melodies of remarkable finesse. The lush allure of this work borders on sentimentality; this may be  as close as Prokofiev ever gets to Rachmaninoff. Sculthorpe wrote Irkanda IV as a plain and straightforward expression … Continued
The ingenious combination of college drinking songs and folk tunes that Brahms weaves into the taut structure of his âAcademic  Festival Overtureâ provides an ideal foil to Arnoldâs mesmerising film score, David Copperfield, based on Charles Dickensâ immortal story. The two virtuosic works for Double Bass by Bottesini and Ramsier will astound the audience with … Continued
The magnificent âEmperorâ piano concerto is Beethovenâs most innovative. Heroic in spirit, the âEmperorâ combines a flamboyant gesture for soloist and orchestra together, seemingly at once declamatory and improvisatory. Contrasting with this dramatic work, Michael Daugherty has written a fun and contemporary romp in Route 66, a rear-vision view of âmain street Americaâ. The sixth … Continued
Malcolm Arnoldâs Inn of the Sixth Happiness Suite, devised from the 1958 film, is full of memorable themes and ingenious combinations of textures and has become one of the best known of his hundred-or-so movie scores. It provides an ideal foil to the sense of colour, mystery and surprise conveyed in Brittenâs beguiling theatrical orchestral … Continued
*World Premiere performance, marimba virtuoso Sergei Golovko and the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra perform Golovkoâs own Russian Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra. This programme also celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Argentinian composer Ginastera, with the performance of his short tone poem, Overture to the Creole Faust, and also includes a wonderful selection of … Continued
Barberâs concert overture to The School for Scandal bursts with wit and youthful energy. In between cheeky tunes and bustling rhythms, lies a haunting lyrical theme so characteristic of Barberâs maturity. Coplandâs âThe Cityâ was set to a short documentary film from 1939. It attempts to contrast the evils of the industrialised city with the … Continued
Dies Irae is a 13th Century latin hymn. It is one of the most famous melodies of the Gregorian chant. Based upon a reference from the Old Testament, it is a reflection upon the Last Judgement. Lisztâs Totentanz and Daughertyâs Red Cape Tango use this musical quotation to great effect in their sombre and daring … Continued
Founded in 1895, The Proms, or as they are more formally known, The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, are billed as the greatest classical music festival on earth. With well over 90 concerts every year from July to September, they take place in the Royal Albert Hall, London. Click here to read … Continued
South American born Marquezâs DanzĂłn No 2 is a distinctive urban dance from the Veracruz region of Mexico. It is rhythmic and spirited, but also nostalgic, even sad, with melodies of smouldering sensuality. The Sea Pictures are Elgarâs only vocal song cycle. This collection of five poems set to music are much loved and an … Continued
Eric Coates natural melodic gift earned him a reputation as a composer of light music and was a highly successful composer of film music. His Three Bears Phantasy was dedicated to his son as a fourth birthday present. Joaquin Rodrigo was an indefatigable champion of the music of his native Spain. Rodrigo composed the concerto … Continued
In The Music Makers, Elgar took his libretto from a poem by Arthur OâShaunessey, whose works, in the late 19th century, were then fashionable. Elgar includes quotations from a number of his earlier works: The Enigma Variations, Sea Pictures, The Dream of Gerontius, and both symphonies, leading listeners to feel that this work is familiar, … Continued
Piazzollaâs oeuvre revolutionised the traditional and conservative tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. In Tangazo, Piazzollaâs trademark string scrapes and glissandi gives the dance an air of erotic menace. Liebermannâs Trumpet Concerto (an Australian premiere), is a masterful work of neo-romanticism that balances bravura and gorgeous … Continued
Smetanaâs programmatic masterpiece, which describes the journey of the river Vltava, is the second and best known of his six symphonic poems from the setting âMy Countryâ that constitute Smetanaâs grand patriotic cycle. Sinfonia Concertante is Mozartâs crowning achievement in the field of the concerto genre. Here in an Italianate aria of heartbreaking beauty, the … Continued
Brahms chose the title âTragicâ to emphasize the turbulent, tormented character of this piece, in essence a free-standing symphonic movement. Despite its name, the Tragic Overture does not follow any specific dramatic program. Brahms was not very interested in musical storytelling and was more concerned with conveying and eliciting emotional impressions. Mendelssohnâs Violin Concerto forms … Continued
Saddle up your horse, pull on your boots, clip that light-sabre to your belt and squeeze into your superhero suitâŠâŠ tonight you will be transported into the world of the silver screen from the film scores of yesteryear to some of the highest grossing movies of all time. Generation after generation have sat spellbound at … Continued
Mozartâs final symphony is a grand construction of epic proportions. From its heroic opening, pensive and liquid middle movements to the legendary âfugueâ of the finale, the Symphony is a magical display of compositional genius that transports the listener with an astounding display of driving power, mellow relaxation and a profusion of enchanting melodies. Haydnâs … Continued
Rachmaninovâs Symphonic Dance No. 1 is a work that is fully representative of the composerâs late style with its curious, shifting harmonies. The work has almost Prokofiev-like grotesquerie and focuses on individual instrumental tone colours throughout. The âEmperorâ Concerto is Beethovenâs most innovative, and for the most part, heroic work. The âEmperorâ combines a flamboyant … Continued
The influence of Latin American and Spanish folk traditions on classical music of the late 19th century and beyond has been profound. Saint-SaĂ«ns 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 … Continued
A richly varied program gives an opportunity to display the outstanding talent of renowned violinist Natsuko Yoshimoto, as soloist in Bruchâs 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 Iâm Down for Lack of Johnny. In … Continued
The great Czech composers JanĂĄÄek and DvoĆĂĄk 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 … Continued
The aptness of this concertâs title is underscored by the largest, most expressively rich and varied work of the program, Shostakovichâs 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 âGermanâ part of the … Continued
The contrast between the lightness and humour of Johann Straussâ music and the devotional depth of Bachâs cantata provides an ideal foil to the centrepiece of the final concert of the series, Tchaikovskyâs mighty 5th Symphony. This is a work that is completely engrossing in a way that only the great symphonic works can be. … Continued
The rhapsodical offerings of this concert are highly representative of twentieth-century mainstream American and English music. Gershwin and Copland typify the energy and vigour of the New World, whilst Vaughan-Williams and Arnold encompass the more far-sighted cultural vision of the Old, notwithstanding Arnoldâs reference to modernism and innovation. These works display a distinctiveness of national … Continued
The excitement and sense of invention that informs the orchestration of Grainger and Holst, and the youthful Romantic sweep of Wagnerâs overture to his early opera, Rienzi, are certain to be enjoyed as attractive works in their own right. However the pure beauty, majesty and compositional perfection of Beethovenâs violin concerto, a work that easily … Continued
The opening concert of this series offers a wonderfully varied program encompassing a number of styles and historical periods. From Beethovenâs impressively dramatic Egmont Overture to Bizetâs lustrous Carmen Fantasy, to the archetypically American sounds of Bernsteinâs West-Side Story â this concert has a distinctly theatrical tone.