royal philharmonic orchestra at southbank centre 2011-12 brochure
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Welcome to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2011-2012 series of concerts at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall featuring a stellar line up of conductors, accompanied by classical music’s crème de la crème of soloists.TRANSCRIPT
Royal Philharmonic Orchestrawww.rpo.co.uk
Sunday 23rd October 2011, 7.30pm
Shostakovich Festive Overture
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2
Prokofiev Symphony No.5
Kirill KarabitsConductor
Barry Douglas Piano
This programme of Russian masterpieces begins with the irrepressible
energy and sparkling orchestration of Shostakovich’s Festive Overture.
Written in just three days, this showpiece dazzles with its glorious fanfares
and quick-fire melodies hurtling across the orchestra.
Perhaps the best-loved piano concerto of all time, Rachmaninov’s Second
Piano Concerto is an irresistible mixture of exquisite melodies and
yearning passion.
Prokofiev left a gap of fourteen years between his Fourth and Fifth
Symphonies. Symphony No.5 was written during the tumult of
World War II as ‘a hymn to free and happy Man, to his mighty powers,
his pure and noble spirit’. Prokofiev explained that this theme was not a
conscious choice but ‘was born in me and clamoured for expression.
The music matured within me. It filled my soul’.
Tuesday 8th November 2011, 7.30pm
Berlioz Le Corsaire Overture
Barber Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5
Charles Dutoit Conductor
James EhnesViolin
A programme of works covering the full spectrum of human emotion,
beginning with Berlioz’s romantic, mercurial Overture, eventually
named Le Corsaire after Byron’s semi-autobiographical poem.
Barber’s Violin Concerto has become one of the most popular
twentieth-century works in the genre, ranging from fiery drama to
lyrical introspection, while Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony is amongst
his most optimistic works: the motif which appears in every
movement begins in serious mood, but ends with triumph in the
rousing finale.
Welcome to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2011-2012
series of concerts at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
featuring a stellar line up of co
nductors, accompanied by classic
al music’s
crème de la crème of soloists.
Irrepressible energy and sparkling orchestrations combine for a thrilling start to the season as
Kirill Karabits conducts Prokofiev’s mighty Symphony No.5. The Russian theme continues as
Pinchas Zukerman returns to the Royal Festival Hall to conduct Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10
in a concert which consists of two contrasting halves, also featuring Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5.
Maestros Charles Dutoit and Daniele Gatti conduct concerts covering a full spectrum of emotion,
from Strauss’ heroic Ein Heldenleben to Beethoven’s dramatic ‘Pastoral’ Symphony. Nigel Kennedy also
makes a welcome return as he enlightens us with his virtuosic touch with Brahms’ Violin Concerto.
The Orchestra looks forward to seeing you soon at these concerts.
Tuesday 7th February 2012, 7.30pm
Beethoven Egmont Overture
Mozart Piano Concerto No.23
Beethoven Symphony No.6, ‘Pastoral’
Daniele GattiConductor
Jasminka StanculPiano
The majestic Egmont Overture so vividly conjured up the noble spirit of the
play’s hero that Goethe himself praised the composer’s ‘remarkable genius’.
This skill for dramatic writing is also found in the ‘Storm’ movement of
Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony, surrounded by music of sunny grace and
rustic charm. At the heart of this programme is Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23,
its deeply moving Adagio framed by outer movements of breezy elegance.
Friday 30th March 2012, 7.30pm
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Strauss Ein Heldenleben
Charles Dutoit Conductor
Julia FischerViolin
Now established as one of the major works in the repertoire, Beethoven’s
brilliant Violin Concerto is bursting with vigorous melodies and elegant
exchanges between the soloist and orchestra. Richard Strauss takes us on
an epic journey in ‘A Hero’s Life’, which sparked controversy when it was
suggested that the work was autobiographical – that Strauss was portraying
himself as the ‘hero’! Whether or not this was the case, Strauss paints a vivid
picture of love, conflict and peace in this ravishing orchestral tour de force.
Wednesday 23rd May 2012, 7.30pm
Mozart The Marriage of Figaro Overture
Mozart Violin Concerto No.5, ‘Turkish’
Shostakovich Symphony No.10
Pinchas Zukerman Conductor / Violin
A programme of fascinating contrasts, juxtaposing the sunny temperament
of Mozart with Shostakovich’s haunting Symphony No.10. In his Overture to
The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart sends flurries of notes bustling across the
orchestra, sparkling with a melodic brilliance that cannot fail to delight.
The Violin Concerto No.5 reveals other facets of Mozart’s character:
graceful delicacy, and an exquisitely wistful slow movement.
Written after Stalin’s death, Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony veers from
brooding contemplation to the scurrying second movement – when, as in
Mozart’s Overture, notes fly across the orchestra at breakneck speed.
Tuesday 12th June 2012, 7.30pm
Brahms Academic Festival Overture
Elgar ‘Enigma’ Variations
Brahms Violin Concerto
Andrew Litton Conductor
Nigel KennedyViolin
Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, despite having a rather studious
ring to its title, is in fact one of his liveliest works, based on a series
of student drinking songs and written to balance the more sombre style
of his Tragic Overture.
Brahms’ Violin Concerto, performed by Nigel Kennedy, moves from a
noble opening movement to the gorgeous Adagio, followed by an
energetic finale.
Sandwiched between these works is one of Elgar’s best-loved creations,
his glorious ‘Enigma’ Variations, with their mysterious ‘hidden theme’.
The variations sparkle with Elgar’s finest melodic invention and
orchestral flair, reaching great emotional depth in the profound
nobility of the Nimrod variation.
Notes by Joanna WyldAll details correct at time of going to press
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Subscription SeriesBook for 2 or more concerts and make great savings!
Terms and Conditions: Concerts must all be booked in one transaction. Subscription discounts cannot be combined with any other discounts. Offer available online at www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Seating Area 2-3 ConcertsSave 15%
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'Charles Dutoit's ... tenure as principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has begun to bear fruit, judging by an evening of Russian music that... raised the orchestral temperature to boiling point.' The Guardian
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