New Bristol Sinfonia - Archive

New Bristol Sinfonia present an evening of exciting music!

Tonight's concert features three of the world's most famous, and brooding composers. Our first piece is Beethoven's Egmont Overture. This was written as part of a musical score for Goethe's play "Egmont" which was inspired by historical European events of the 16th century. Beethoven was intrigued by the play as the subject matter dealt with the struggle for freedom, a theme he had started to explore in the opera 'Fidelio'. The Overture begins with a grave theme, moving into an impassioned allegro, both of which provide the sense of oppression and pleading. The close of the Overture echoes the play's end and the "Victory Symphony" which is played as Egmont goes proudly to his death, confident in the coming triumph of his cause.

Our next piece is Wagner's Overture to The Flying Dutchman. This was Wagner's second mature opera and is based on the legend of a phantom ship which rides the stormy seas and cannot be sunk. The only living person on board is the Dutch captain who swears that he will go round the Cape of Good Hope "even if it takes until Doomsday". The Devil overhears him and takes him at his word, so the Dutchman is doomed to live forever on a ghostly ship. Wagner added a twist to the story, allowing the captain shoreleave once every seven years during which he had to find a woman who would be true to him unto death. Such a woman, should he find her, would free him from his eternal curse. The Overture is dominated by the Dutchman's bold stormy theme, but by the end, under the influence of his true love, this becomes a theme of the triumph of love and redemption.

Tonight's final piece is Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2. At the time he wrote this, Rachmaninov had been through years of deep depression following the harsh criticism of his disasterous Symphony No. 1. Finally, after four months of psychological help and hypnosis from Dr Nickolai Dahl, Rachmaninov suddenly overcame his writer's block and produced his Second Piano Concerto (one of his most popular works) followed swiftly by the Second Symphony (which he dedicated to Dr Dahl). Both serve as proof that he had left his difficulties behind. The Symphony has four movements - the first being quite long, starting quietly with a low string theme that pervades the whole Symphony. The second movement is a lively, brilliantly orchestrated scherzo leading into the third movement - the adagio. This opens with a lovely, sighing violin theme which gives way to a beautiful clarinet melody, both of which come together at the end to exchange roles. The finale begins with festive dancing which introduces the movement's big theme. The melody from the slow movement is re-considered before an astonishing passage of descending scales cascades down like the pealing of bells. The big theme heard earlier then returns in octaves, sweeping in the final cadences.

Concert

Date: Saturday 14 June, 2008

Programme:

• Beethoven : Egmont Overture
• Wagner : Overture Flying Dutchman
• Rachmaninov : Symphony No 2

Conductor: Jason Lai

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