Professor Peter Aston Memorial Concert

On the evening of Friday 14th March 2014 I attended the UEA Symphony Orchestra and Choir's Professor Peter Aston Memorial Concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. This concert was dedicated in memory of Professor Peter Aston and also marked Sharon Andrea Choa's last concert as UEA Director of Music and UEA Symphony Orchestra Conductor.

The programme consisted of Nimrod - Elgar, O Sing unto the Lord a New Song, If ye Love Me, O be Joyful in the Lord, The True Glory - Peter Aston and Symphony No.9 - Beethoven. The Orchestra was conducted by Sharon Andrea Choa and the Choir was conducted by Tom Primrose. Soloists on the evening were Lisa Cassidy, Eleanor White, Iain Milne and Andrew Weeks.

This was an emotional night at St. Andrew's Hall which included sacred choral music by Peter Aston. Elgar's Nimrod and Beethoven's Symphony No.9 were both performed brilliantly with Sharon Andrea Choa conducting the UEA Symphony Orchestra for the last time before taking up her appointment at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Adams and Muhly music at St. Andrew's Hall

On Thursday 23rd May 2013 I attended Britten Sinfonia's Norfolk and Norwich Festival concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. This was an exciting performance from this adventurous ensemble which combined complex minimalism with cross-genre inventiveness.

The programme consisted of Shaker Loops - John Adams, Seeing is Believing (Concerto for Electric Violin) - Nico Muhly, Double Standard - Nico Muhly and Chamber Symphony - John Adams. Clark Rundell conducted the orchestra at this fantastic concert. Thomas Gould played the electric violin on Seeing is Believing while Colin Clarke and Alexandre Esperet played percussion on Double Standard.

Shaker Loops was composed by John Adams in 1978, it was originally written for string septet and a version for string orchestra followed in 1983. It began as a piece called Wavemaker in which Adams tried to emulate the ripple effect of bodies of water in his music. The piece was a commercial failure, but Adams kept the idea of repeating loops of oscillations on string instruments. He retitled the piece Shaker Loops, both because of the shaking of the strings as they oscillate between notes and the idea Adams had of Shakers dancing to repetitive, energetic music.

Nico Muhly composed Seeing is Believing in 2007, the piece blends electronic fusion and Tudor motets. The composer said that Seeing is Believing references the ancient practice of observing and mapping the sky. The electric violin reminded him of the 1980s and he tried to reference the music attendant to 80s educational videos about science. The piece ends as it began, with looped educational music depicting the night sky.

Double Standard was written by Nico Muhly for Colin Currie and the finalists in last year's TROMP Percussion Competition, won by Alexandre Esperet. This was the piece's UK premiere and is a single movement concerto for two percussionists. Nico Muhly wanted the solo parts to highlight not just technical dexterity but also the do-it-yourself practical knowledge that all great percussionists have.

John Adams composed the Chamber Symphony in 1992, the piece was commissioned by the Gerbode Foundation of San Francisco for the San Francisco Contemporary Chamber Players. It was written for fifteen instruments and bears a resemblance to its eponymous predecessor, the Opus 9 of Arnold Schoenberg. The Chamber Symphony is broken into three discrete movements, Mongrel Airs, Aria with Walking Bass and Roadrunner.

This was a brilliant night to be present at St. Andrew's Hall as Britten Sinfonia brought us the musical delights of John Adams and Nico Muhly. I was very excited about hearing Shaker Loops live and hearing the music of Nico Muhly. John Adams's Chamber Symphony was the highlight of the concert for me. It was full of kinetic energy and had so much going on.

Britten and Bridge celebrated at St. Andrew's Hall

I was back at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival on Monday 13th May 2013 when I attended the Philharmonia Orchestra's concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich which featured David Parry - conductor and Mary Plazas - soprano. This was a celebration of Benjamin Britten's centenary and also a tribute to his links with the Festival.

The programme consisted of Suite, The Sea - Bridge, Our Hunting Fathers - Britten, Sinfonia de Requiem - Britten and Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes - Britten. In 1924 Britten heard The Sea, by his teacher, Frank Bridge at the Festival and was knocked sideways. Our Hunting Fathers was commissioned for the 1936 Festival, where it was conducted by Britten himself at St. Andrew's Hall.

The Sea was composed by Frank Bridge in 1910-11 at Eastbourne. This piece is in four movements, each with its own descriptive title. Seascape, Sea-form, Moonlight and Storm. Benjamin Britten's Our Hunting Fathers was the first of the composers acknowledged orchestral song-cycles. This was a collaboration with the poet W.H. Auden, who provided texts for the opening and closing songs.

Sinfonia da Requiem was written by Britten in 1940 as one of several works commissioned from different composers by the Japanese government to mark the 2600th anniversary of the founding of the Japanese dynasty. The work was considered inappropriate for the occasion and was politely rejected. The first performance of Sinfonia da Requiem was given in New York in 1941.

Britten's Four Sea Interludes received its premiere at the Cheltenham Festival in 1945 only a few days after the first performance of Peter Grimes. The Interludes are taken, with slight modifications, directly from the opera. This is one of the composers most popular pieces of music.

It was a brilliant experience to be at St. Andrew's Hall for this concert which celebrated Benjamin Britten's historic links with the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. This was a night to celebrate wonderful music and the Philharmonia Orchestra were on top form to ensure that this will go down as one of the highlights of this year's Festival.

Triorca Orchestra at St. Andrew's Hall

On the evening of Wednesday 10th April 2013 I attended the Triorca International Youth Orchestra's concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. The orchestra is made up of young musicians from Norfolk, Rheinland-Pfalz and Novi Sad. This was their first UK appearance conducted by their Artistic Director, Nicholas Daniel.

The programme consisted of Wavefront Silhouette - Xiaotian Shi, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra - Britten and Symphony No.5 - Shostakovich. Triorca's Patron, Louis de Bernieres was narrator for Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra which was performed as a tribute to the composer in his centenary year.

Wavefront Silhouette is a new work commissioned for the orchestra from Aldeburgh young musician, Xiaotian Shi. This piece was inspired by the sea and creates the sense of a journey going through the different emotions. Music has always been a common language and the sea links so many different countries, peoples and cultures together.

Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra was written in 1946 as the soundtrack to a film entitled The Instruments of the Orchestra featuring the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Sargent. The theme is taken from Henry Purcell's incidental music to Abdelazar, composed in 1695 for a revival of Aphra Behn's play originally written in 1676.

Shostakovich composed his Fifth Symphony in 1937 and was first performed in December of that year. The premiere was a huge success, and received an ovation that lasted well over half an hour. The composer had to be tactful in his approach by appearing to yield to pressure from the State while still retaining his artistic integrity.

This was a wonderful evening at Norwich's St. Andrew's Hall with the Triorca Orchestra providing us with a splendid programme of music played brilliantly with lots of enthusiasm. It was great to see this orchestra perform and they provide an inspiration to lots of people.

The Academy of St. Thomas at St. Andrew's Hall

I was back in Norwich City Centre on the evening of Saturday 2nd March 2013 to attend the Academy of St. Thomas concert at St. Andrew's Hall. This performance featured violinist Lorraine McAslan who is currently a member of the London Soloist Ensemble, she also teaches at London's Junior Royal Academy of Music. The orchestra were conducted by Christopher Adey

The programme consisted of Karelia Overture - Sibelius, Violin Concerto - Britten and Symphony No.7 in A major - Beethoven. Part of the orchestra's philosophy is to offer diverse programming as well as more familiar repertoire.

In the Summer of 1892 Jean Sibelius visited the Karelia region of Eastern Finland. The region won his heart and the following year the Viborg Students Society at Helsinki University asked him to compose incidental music for a gala to help raise awareness of the culture of the Karelian people. Sibelius composed an overture and nine numbers, three of these formed the Karelia Suite Op.11.

Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto was completed in 1939 and was given its premiere in New York on 29th March 1940, by the Spanish violinist Antonio Brosa with the New York Philharmonic conducted by John Barbirolli.  A revised version of the concerto appeared in the 1950s, including alterations of the solo violin part prepared with the assistance of Manoug Parikian.

In 1811 Beethoven worked on his Symphony No.7 while staying in the Bohemian spa town of Teplice in the hope of improving his health. It was completed in 1812, and was dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries. It was first performed on 8th December 1813 at a concert for wounded soldiers in Vienna arranged by Maelzel, the inventor of the metronome.

This was another wonderful evening to be in attendance at St. Andrew's Hall as the Academy of St. Thomas treated us to a splendid programme of Classical Music. Lorraine McAslan and the orchestra played a brilliant Britten Violin Concerto while after the interval Beethoven's 7th Symphony was an uplifting piece to finish the concert.

Mahler brilliance at St. Andrew's Hall!

On Saturday 9th February 2013 I attended the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra's concert at St. Andrew's Hall which featured a jolly piece from Brahms and a splendid Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in the first half while after the interval it was the brilliance of Mahler which completed the evening. The Orchestra were conducted by Matthew Andrews with David Greed as soloist for the Mendelssohn piece.

The programme consisted of Academic Festival Overture - Brahms, Violin Concerto in E minor - Mendelssohn and Symphony No.1 The Titan - Mahler. This was a collection of music that guaranteed a very enjoyable night for the large audience in attendance.

The concert started with Brahms' Academic Festival Overture which the composer said was a work full of laughter. Its  musical references to the famous college song Gaudeamus Igitur guarantees a fun time for the audience. The piece was composed in 1880 as a response to Breslau University awarding Brahms an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy as the most famous living German composer of serious music.

Mendelssohn wrote his Violin Concerto for his good friend Ferdinand David, concertmaster of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra where Mendelssohn was principal conductor in 1844. It was an instant success and remains one of the great benchmarks of the genre, with its soaring melodies and virtuoso cadenzas.

Mahler's First Symphony was also written in Leipzig and is sometimes know as 'The Titan'. It is written for a huge orchestra with vivid birdsong in the winds and thrilling horn calls evoking the natural splendours of alpine Austria, memories, it's claimed, from Mahler's childhood. It was mainly composed between late 1887 and March 1888, though it incorporates music Mahler had composed for previous works.

This was a wonderful evening of classical music at St. Andrew's Hall as we were thrilled by the playing of Opera North leader David Greed on Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto while the Norwich Philharmonic gave a truly brilliant performance of Mahler's Titan Symphony with the audience showing their appreciation at the end of the concert. With the fun of Brahms' Academic Festival Overture as well this was definitely a night to remember.

Four Sea Interludes at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich

On the evening of Saturday 8th December 2012 I attended the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra's concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich which featured conductor Matthew Andrews and pianist Richard Uttley. The programme consisted of Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes - Britten, Piano Concerto No.2 - Rachmaninov and Symphony No.7 - Dvorak.

Benjamin Britten's Four Sea Interludes composed in 1945 is from his opera, Peter Grimes, which captures the unique spirit of the composer's beloved East Coast. This performance formed part of Familiar Fields a celebration across Norfolk and Suffolk of Britten's life and music in his centenary year. The Sea Interludes were developed from the six orchestral pieces that introduce the acts and link scenes in the opera. Besides being evocative portraits of the sea at different times of day and in different weather conditions, they are also psychological studies that chronicle the dramatic confrontation between Grimes and the townspeople of Aldeburgh, where the drama is set.

Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 is one of the most popular pieces in the classical repertoire. Brilliant young pianist Richard Uttley took on the epic challenge of this great romantic masterpiece, which film fans will recognise as the emotional soundtrack to Brief Encounter. This piece was composed in 1900 after the composer recovered from a period of depression.

Dvorak's Symphony No.7 was written for the London Philharmonic Society in 1884 and was a wild success at its premiere with its showcase of sweet melodies and dramatic orchestral flourishes. This piece fulfilled his apparent aim to prove himself more then a purely nationalist composer.

This was a wonderful concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich which included the performance of Four Sea Interludes as a tribute to Benjamin Britten in his centenary year. Richard Uttley played a splendid Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2 while Dvorak's Symphony No.7 was a brilliant finish to the concert.

UEA Symphony Orchestra celebrate Britten

 
On Friday 23rd November 2012 I attended the UEA Symphony Orchestra's Britten Centenary Celebration Concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich with two unfinished masterpieces being performed. The orchestra were conducted by Sharon Andrea Choa. Soloists were Simon Smith - violin and Paul Silverthorne - viola. The programme consisted of Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in B minor - Britten and Symphony No.3 - Elgar/Payne.

Britten wrote the Double Concerto at the age of 18 but never realised the orchestral parts, nor sought to have it performed. The work only received its premiere in 1997, after completion by Colin Matthews. Anthony Payne (UEA’s Composer in Residence) had a great deal less material to work with – no score, but 130 pages of sketches – when he set out to complete Elgar’s unfinished 3rd Symphony, which also received its first performance in 1997, to great acclaim, at the BBC Proms.

This was a wonderful evening at St. Andrew's Hall to celebrate the centenary of Benjamin Britten which included a brilliant performance of his Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra. Anthony Payne was in attendance with Elgar's Symphony No.3 being performed. This piece finishes on a fade out ending, with a ghostly echo of the symphony's opening in the very last bars. Payne took this cue from The Waggons Passes, from Elgar's 1930 Nursery Suite.

Musical treats from the Academy of St. Thomas

On the evening of Saturday 20th October 2012 I attended the Academy of St. Thomas concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich which featured soloists Kanako Ito on violin and Martin Storey on cello. Christopher Adey was conductor as we were treated to a programme of Egmont Overture - Beethoven, Double Concerto for Violin and Cello - Brahms and Symphony No.4 The Italian - Mendelssohn.

In the autumn of 1809 Beethoven was commissioned by the Director of the Vienna Court Theatre to compose the incidental music for a new production of Goethe's 1787 play Egmont. The music consists of an overture and nine additional pieces for soprano, narrator and orchestra. Brahms write his Double Concerto for Violin and Cello for his friend Joachim in 1887 who he had fell out with for several years. Mendelssohn's The Italian is always referred to as his Fourth Symphony although it is his third in order of composition. It was started during a visit to Italy in 1830 but was not completed until three years later in Berlin.

This was a wonderful evening at St. Andrew's Hall as The Academy of St. Thomas put on a brilliant performance with the highlight of the night being the Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello when Kanako Ito and Martin Storey gave us a moment to remember. The programme was true to the orchestra's philosophy to offer diverse programming as well as more familiar repertoire.

Spira mirabilis perform Beethoven

It was a beautiful sunny evening when I arrived at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich on Wednesday 23rd May 2012 for the Spira mirabilis concert at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. It was like they had brought the good weather from Italy with them. Spira mirabilis perform without a conductor and play one single piece of music to focus their energies.

At the Norfolk and Norwich Festival they performed Beethoven's lyrical Sixth Symphony Pastoral. Beethoven said that this piece was recollections of country life, more the expression of feelings than painting. It was completed in 1808 and starts with the awakening of cheerful feelings, taking us on a journey through the countryside. This was the perfect piece of music for the ensemble to bring their own unique blend of vivacity and virtuosity.

Spira mirabilis played with loads of energy and freedom with lots of spontaneity. It was like being at a chamber music concert as we were all thrilled by their wonderful performance which gave a feeling of immediacy. It was clear that the players were enjoying themselves and this made for an amazing atmosphere at St. Andrew's Hall. Spira mirabilis is named after a geometrical figure with the characteristic of always being superimposable onto itself.

Britten Sinfonia at St. Andrew's Hall

I was back at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich on Friday 11th May 2012 for the second time in three days to attend the Britten Sinfonia concert as the Norfolk and Norwich Festival continued to thrill us all in the Fine City. Due to family illness Mark Padmore had to withdraw from this performance with Roderick Williams as his replacement on the evening.

The programme consisted of German Dances - Schubert arr. Webern, Five Movements - Webern, Lieder - Schubert arr. Webern, Ruckert Lieder - Mahler and Symphony No.5 - Schubert. From the full moon shines on mountaintops from Schubert's Romanze aus Rosamunde to his splendid emotional Symphony No.5 on to Mahler's If you love for beauty this was a programme full of classical music treats.

Britten Sinfonia along with baritone Roderick Williams gave us a performance of the highest quality with a programme that showed the versatility of Britten Sinfonia and the brilliant vocal skills of Roderick Williams. Its great to have Britten Sinfonia playing regularly in Norwich at the Assembly House and Theatre Royal while their Festival appearance at St. Andrew's Hall are always special events.

Berlin Symphony Orchestra at St. Andrew's Hall

It was a wonderful start to the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2012 at St. Andrew's Hall with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Liebreich and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber thrilling a sold out concert on Wednesday 9th May 2012. I made my way to the venue with great excitement as I looked forward to the opening event of this year's festival.

The programme consisted of Overture, Der Freischutz - Weber, Cello Concerto in C major - Haydn, Serenata and Marcia from Cello Suite No1, Op.72 - Britten, Coriolan Overture, Op.62 - Beethoven and Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op.68 - Brahms. This was a great and varied programme with something for everyone. My personal favourite being the Brahms Symphony No.1.

It was the ideal way to start the concert with Weber's Overture to the opera Der Freischutz which transported us to the enchanted depths of the German forests before Julian Lloyd Webber made his entrance to perform the pieces from Haydn and Britten. The cellist is a great virtuoso who gave a magical performance at St. Andrew's Hall on a night to remember.

After the interval the Berlin Symphony Orchestra treated us to Beethoven's Coriolan Overture which many observers have seen as the forerunner of the tone poem with its abrupt changes in dynamics and contrasting themes. Johannes Brahms took many years to compose his first symphony partly due to the composer feeling that Beethoven had expended nearly all the potential of that form. Brahms is one of favourite composers and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra performing his first Symphony made the night for me.

Israel in Egypt at St. Andrew's Hall

On the evening of Saturday 28th April 2012 I was back in Norwich City Centre for the Keswick Hall Choir and Academy of St. Thomas concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich when they performed Handel's Israel in Egypt. This performance featured Nicki Kennedy - soprano, Rebecca Mundy - soprano, Andrew Radley - countertenor and Joshua Ellicott - tenor. The Academy of St. Thomas were conducted by John Alpin.

Handel’s oratorio Israel in Egypt was written three years before the Messiah in 1738 and, like the Messiah, is somewhat atypical of the composer’s oratorios. Scored for double chorus and an orchestra using trombones, trumpets, timpani, woodwinds and strings with continuo, Israel in Egypt contains relatively little solo material but is dominated by large-scale virtuosic choruses that fully exploit Handel’s lavish and sophisticated word-painting.

This was a wonderful night at St. Andrew's Hall as the Keswick Hall Choir and the Academy of St. Thomas brought us a performance of the highest quality of this splendid piece from Handel. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Jonathan Dove and Prokofiev at St. Andrew's Hall

On the evening of Saturday 17th March 2012 I made my way to St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich for the Norwich Philharmonic Society's last concert of the 2011/12 season which featured a programme of There was a Child - Jonathan Dove and Alexander Nevsky - Prokofiev.

The line-up on the night was Nicola-Jane Kemp - Soprano, Jennifer Westwood - Mezzo-Soprano, Martin Hindmarsh - Tenor, Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Norwich Cathedral Choristers, Norwich Cathedral Girls' Choir and David Dunnett - Conductor.

There was a Child is large scale piece of communal music by Jonathan Dove that was commissioned in 2009 jointly by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The commission coincided with a request from a friend whose nineteen year old son had drowned while on holiday ten years before for a musical commemoration of his death which would be a celebration of life that could be shared with lots of people.

The Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein asked Prokofiev to write the score for Alexander Nevsky his first sound film in 1938. The following year the composer developed the score into a cantata to a text he devised in collaboration with V. Nugovskoi. It's seven sections tell the story of Russia's struggles against its enemies in the 13th century culminating in victory over the Teutonic Knights. From the oppression brought by the Tartar invasion onto Russia's defeat of the Swedes under the leadership of Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod.

The third section's harsh brass chords represent the Germans while the fourth is a call to join Alexander Nevsky's army and repel the foe. In the next section we hear the approach of the German knights, the Russian charge, the fury of battle and eventual Russian victory. In the penultimate scene a Russian girl surveys the battlefield and vows to wed the brave soldier rather then the handsome before Alexander Nevsky's triumphant entry into Pskov.

The was a wonderful and emotional concert at St. Andrew's Hall with splendid performances from the Orchestra and Choir. A large audience ensured this was a night to remember at this historic Norwich venue. There was a Child was a challenging piece for the Norwich Philharmonic to play but they proved they were up to the challenge. In the second half of the concert they brought us Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky which was a great way to bring the 2011/12 season to a close.

Oberon magic at St. Andrew's Hall

On Saturday 4th February 2012 I attended the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich which featured pianist Mihkel Poll and conductor Matthew Andrews.

The programme for the evening was Oberon Overture - Weber, Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor - Brahms and Symphony No.3 in A minor - Rachmaninov.

It was cold outside the venue and during the concert snow started to fall but inside we were all filled with the warmth of the music. The concert began with Weber's Oberon Overture which is based on the story of Sir Huon, who undertakes a perilous rescue mission, protected by a magic horn which can summon the elf-king, Oberon.

Soloist for Brahms Piano Concerto No,1 was Estonian Mihkel Poll who gave an intense performance that delighted the audience. This piece started as a sonata for two pianos in 1854, it turned into a symphony the following year before Brahms combined piano and orchestra in a concerto in 1856.

After the interval we were treated to a wonderful performance from the Orchestra of Rachmaninov's Symphony No.3. This piece was written during the final phase of the composers career and has a contemporary style that was met with a lukewarm reception in 1936. Despite this the composer remained convinced that it was one of his best works.

New Year celebrations at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich

Two hours later I made my way to St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich for the Norwich Pops Orchestra's New Year's Day Concert which featured a programme of traditional Viennese favourites. Conductor for the afternoon was Geoff Davidson who insists that Andre Rieu is after his spot but while he can still raise his baton the Austrian Waltz King will not grace this stage.

The programme consisted of Estudiantina Waltz - Waldteufel, Overture Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna - Von Suppe, Egyptian March - Johann Strauss II, Waltz Wine, Women and song - Johann Strauss II, Annen Polka - Johann Strauss II, Ballsirenen Waltz from The Merry Widow - Johann Strauss II, Schnellpost Polka - Johann Strauss II, Polka from Schwanda the Bagpiper - Weinberger, Gold and Silver Waltz - Lehar, Scene and Waltz from Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky, Leichtes Blut Polka Schnell - Johann Strauss II, Quodlibet A Guid New Year - Arr Geoff Davidson, Waltz On the Beautiful Blue Danube - Johann Strauss II and (Encore) Radetsky March - Johann Strauss II.

This was the sixth time that the Orchestra have brought the flavour of a traditional Viennese concert to New Year's Day at St. Andrew's Hall which was packed and resulted in the venue selling out of programmes. The concert was full of fun and humour as Geoff Davidson entertained us between the music. We all left the Hall humming the tunes with smiles on our faces looking forward to the new year.

Christmas celebrated at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich

On Tuesday 20th December 2011 I attended the Norwich Philharmonic Family Christmas Concert at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich featuring the Norwich Philharmonic Chorus, Norfolk Brass and Norwich Lower School Chamber Choir. This concert which was fundraising in support of Help for Heroes also featured conductor David Dunnett and organist Timothy Patient.

St. Andrew's Hall was filled with Christmas spirit as the choir and audience sang a number of Christmas carols. The sound of O Come All Ye Faithful, Good King Wenceslas, While Shepherds Watched and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing echoed around the venue as we all got into a festive mood.

Norfolk Brass gave a wonderful performance which included White Christmas while the Norwich Lower School Chamber Choir delighted us with Little Donkey. The Norwich Philharmonic Chorus were in fine voice all night. Timothy Patient gave an organ solo of Mr Mozart Takes a Sleigh Ride on a night to celebrate Christmas.

Elgar back home at Norwich's St. Andrew's Hall

I was back at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich on Saturday 10th December 2011 for the latest Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra concert which always means a large audience at this historic venue. This was a special night due to the links between Sir Edward Elgar and concert sponsors Hansells. The composer become good friends with Norwich solicitor Walter Hansell when he came to Norwich in 1905 to rehearse for the triennial Norwich Music Festival. The night's concert featured Elgar's Cello Concerto.

On the evening the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra were conducted by Matthew Andrews with Philadelphia born Bartholomew LaFollette as cello soloist. the full programme consisted of Helios Overture - Nielsen, Cello Concerto in E minor - Elgar, Egdon Heath - Holst and Symphony No.5 in E flat - Sibelius.

The opening piece of the evening Helios Overture was composed by Nielsen in 1903 while in Athens and inspired by the sight of the sun rising over the Aegean Sea. This was followed by Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor which included an incredible performance from soloist Bartholomew LaFollette who along with his cello made St. Andrew's Hall his own which resulted in loud and warm applause from the enthusiastic audience.

After the interval we were given a splendid performance of Egdon Heath, Holst's portrait of a landscape which was inspired by Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native. This was followed by my highlight of the night with music by one of my favourite composers. Sibelius composed his Symphony No.5 in E flat as part of the celebrations for his fiftieth birthday in 1915 though the definitive score was not released until 1919.

This was a mighty way to finish the concert and how better to conclude then with the six massive majestic strokes at the end of the Symphony. This was a night of triumph for the Norwich Philharmonic Society who for 171 years has it's main object to promote and perform orchestral and choral music. Tonight they performed orchestral music that they can be very proud of.

The UEA Symphony Orchestra bring us Christmas Joy

On Friday 9th December 2011 I made my way to St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich for the UEA Symphony Orchestra and Choir Christmas Concert. This was their first concert since it was announced that the UEA School of Music would close. During the evening Sharon Andrea Choa reassured us that these concerts would continue in the future with support from the UEA.

The programme consisted of Violin Concerto in F minor, Winter - Vivaldi, Gloria RV 589 - Vivaldi, God is With Us - Tavener, What Sweeter Music - Rutter, Sir Christemas from 'Ave Rex' - Mathias and Fantasia on Christmas Carols - Williams.

The conductors for this festive celebration were Sharon Andrea Choa and Tom Primrose. Soloists were Simon Smith - violin, Dhilan Gnadadurai - baritone, Billie Robson and Verity Ransom - soprano, Matthew O'Keeffe - countertenor and Kris Tomsett - organist.

Vivaldi's Winter evokes the cold icy wind while sitting next to the fireside before venturing outside to walk on the ice. After some slips and falls the ice cracks and breaks up and back indoors we hear all the winds battling it out. Simon Smith brought us all the joys of Winter with his fine violin playing.

Oh the glory of Vivaldi's glory, yes Antonio Vivaldi again this time bringing us Gloria in excelsis. This was a glorious performance from the Orchestra and Choir that lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance at St. Andrew's Hall. Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace to men of goodwill.

After the interval we were treated with Sir John Tavener's God is With Us which is a work commissioned in 1987 for the Choir of Winchester Cathedral. This was followed by John Rutter's What Sweeter Music which sets words adapted from a poem by Robert Herrick.

Next to be performed was Sir Christemas from Ave Rex composed by William Mathias. Ave Rex is a setting of four medieval carol texts composed in 1969. In this piece the choir shout a final Nowell. The concert finished with Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols written in 1912. This was a wonderful way to finish this splendid and heart warming concert. I'm sure everyone in attendance were put into the Christmas spirit and left St. Andrew's Hall with smile on their faces.

Norwich Philharmonic with Haydn Glory!

On Saturday 5th November 2011 it was Norwich Philharmonic Society's first concert of the 2011/12 season at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. I made my way to this historic venue with great expectations and was not disappointed as the Orchestra and Chorus put on a wonderful performance.

The programme for the evening was The Noonday Witch - Dvorak, Suite from Der Rosenkavalier - Richard Strauss  and Mass in B flat Harmoniemesse - Haydn. Conductors for the evening were Matthew Andrews and David Dunnett with Cecilia Osmond - soprano, Clare McCaldin - mezzo-soprano, Simon Wall - tenor and Brian Bannatyne-Scott - bass.

The Noonday Witch is one of the five symphonic poems composed by Dvorak from 1896-97 that tells the story of a mother who threatens her child with the witch. Richard Strauss wrote Der Rosenkavaler in 1909-10 from which he later extracted two waltz sequences. Mass in B flat, Harmoniemesse was the last of six masses that Haydn wrote for Prince Nicolaus II's wife Marie Hermenegild.

In the first half of the programme we had the dramatic piece from Dvorak followed by Richard Strauss' splendid works from Der Rosenkavaler but the highlight of the evening had to be Haydn's Harmoniemesse complete with chorus in full voice. Harmonie is German for wind-band as the mass is in B flat making it suitable for a large wind section. Glory be to God on high and on earth peace to men of goodwill.