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** Kindly supported by Making Music’s Philip & Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists scheme.
Havant Symphony Orchestra’s second concert of the season
at Oaklands features four composers, all from the Romantic period of classical
music, but each from a different country and each with such a very individual
voice!
Schumann, famous for his dark moods and for throwing himself
in the Rhine, is at his most dramatic in his Manfred Overture.
This was written as incidental music to the poem of the same name by Byron and
is full of turbulence and passion.
Also originally part of a set of music for a drama,
Sibelius’ Valse Triste is a beautiful, but spooky, evocation of a
slightly sinister dance. The title literally means ‘Sad
Waltz’ and the music was written for a play entitled ‘Death’
written by Sibelius’ brother-in-law.
Travelling next to France, and in rather jollier mood, HSO
will play the Violin Concerto No. 3 by Saint-Saëns. This was
written for the Spanish virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate and, though less showy than
the composer’s first two concertos, it is full of beauty and
impressionistic subtlety. Our soloist, Joo Yeon Sir, is supported by
Making Music’s Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert
Artists. This scheme helps talented artists to get exposure and also
helps music societies to afford those artists, thereby helping classical music
fans to hear outstanding musicians in their local area! Joo Yeon recently
premiered a work by Karl Jenkins and is also a talented composer
herself.
Dvořák is probably most famous for his New World
Symphony, but his earlier symphonies are equally enjoyable and some consider
the Seventh to be his greatest. It was written at the invitation of the
Philharmonic Society of London and premiered at St James’ Hall in London
in 1885 with the composer conducting. At the time Dvořák was heavily
influenced by Brahms but he still allows a Czech flavour to infuse his own
music especially in the lively Scherzo and lilting melody in the last movement
of this Symphony.
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