New Bristol Sinfonia - Archive

New Bristol Sinfonia present an evening of European composers!

Tonight's concert is our first of 2008 and features composers from France, Spain and England. Our first piece is Faure's suite from Pelleas and Melisande, which was adapted from a score for the London production of a play written by Maurice Maeterlinck. Out of the original seventeen numbers in the score, Faure chose four to make up a suite for the concert hall. The music is delicate, atmospheric and animated by haunting harmonies and beautiful melodies which reflect the love triangle of Maeterlinck's brooding play. The first section sets the mood, with the character of Melisande, and the horn call signalling Golaud's arrival. The next section sees Melisande at her spinning wheel, talking with Golaud and his son. The third section "Sicilienne" introduces Pelleas, with the final movement serving as the last act and the death of Melisande.

Our next piece tonight is De Falla's "Three Cornered Hat". This began life as a two-act pantomine, and De Falla expanded this into its present form, a two-act ballet, in 1918. After the premiere in London, one critic commented that "in his music for the Three Cornered Hat, Manuel de Falla has treated the orchestra like a gigantic guitar". The ballet was an overwhelming success, and De Falla's music has become a well-loved part of the symphonic repertoire ever since. The story is one of spurned love, seeing a police constable (the corregidor) trying clumsily to seduce a miller's wife. In a madcap riot of confusion during St John's Night celebrations there are chases, mistaken identities and ultimately a happy ending - for the miller and his wife. The corregidor is chastened by the crowd, who mock him while tossing him up in the air on a blanket!

Our final piece is in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the death of Ralph Vaughan Williams. The Symphony No 5 premiered at the London Proms in 1943, and came as something of a surprise for many. His 4th Symphony was a dissonant and concise piece, and seemingly a departure from his usual folk-inspired contemplative style. However, the 5th Symphony is a return to old ways, and indeed an enrichment and development of them. Many of the themes in this piece stem from his then unfinished work, "The Pilgrim's Progress" and the dedication reads "The Jean Sibelius, without permission". Sibelius was later to remark that he was "proud and grateful" for the dedication and considered the Symphony a "marvellous work". The piece is structured in typical four-movement form, starting with soft horn calls in D, with the cellos and basses playing C below. This clashing ambiguity of key runs throughout the work, rising in splendour with the full orchestra echoing the horn's calls, then falling into tranquil counterpoint and back into D major at the end.

Concert

Date: Saturday 29 March, 2008

Programme:

• Faure : Pelleas & Melisande
• Manuel de Falla: El Sombrero de Tres Picos (The Three Cornered Hat)
• Vaughan Williams : Symphony No 5

Conductor: James Lowe

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: Victoria Rooms, Clifton, Bristol. Click here for a map

Tickets:
We recommend booking in advance with our Box Office: 0117 983 5922. (Cheques are accepted and there is no booking fee.) Pre-booked tickets will be posted to you or can be picked up at the door.

Most seats for this concert are numbered and can be reserved in advance. Click here to see a seating plan of the Victoria Rooms. The Box Office can advise on which seats are available and which have the best view.

The ticket prices are:

• £13 (£11 concessions) balcony
• £10 adults (£8 concessions) stalls
• £5 students
• £2 children/school parties

Pre-concert talk:
James will be presenting a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm. This is open to all and entry is free.