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trodu by Henry Kelly
AUGUST 2000
y
Ehore Moments with M
For this summer's outdoor
musical events you'l
find no better company
THE PLEASURE PALACE OF THE PEOPLE
The environment of the Crystal
|
Palace is steeped in history.
Show were held there. The grounds were no less magnificent
than the building with its Halian Terrace and the English
landscaped garden, part of which you are seated in tonight.
The FA Cup Final was played at the Crystal Palace on several
In 1851 the Great Exhibition was opened in Hyde Park by
occasions.
Queen Victoria.
The building, a massive structure of steel
and glass designed by architect Joseph Paxton, was
Many other attractions too numerous to mention made
nicknamed the Crystal Palace. The Exhibition was only
Crystal Palace the Disneyworld of its day, but all things
temporary, and despite a good fight by Sir Joseph, as he
come to an end, and the Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire
became, the exhibition was pulled down.
in 1936, never to be reopened. The water towers were
removed in 1942 as they were considered a landmark for
However, Paxton had a contingency plan and had formed the
German bombers.
Crystal Palace Company, and he purchased land called Penge
Place near the tiny country villages of Sydenham, Penge and
The Crystal Palace had a great tradition for music for the
Norwood.
people, having its own director of music performing daily
The 200-acre site had a railway station and at the top of
for the more serious music lover, and these attracted massive
Sydenham Heights overlooked the Kent and Surrey
audiences with “new” music by Schumann, Schubert and
countryside. The new Crystal Palace took over two years to =
Arthur Sullivan whose first piece was performed at the
concerts of popular music together with “Saturday Concerts”
build, with the help of 5000 navigators or “navvies”, and
Crystal Palace in 1862 when he was 19. Handel was
Norwood New Town was built especially to house them.
synonymous with the Crystal Palace with Handel Festivals
held with over 2000 singers and 386 players. A massive
The opening was again by Queen Victoria on 10th June 1854
with prayxv'ers by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Apart from
organ was built combining 4 keyboards, 74 stops and 4568
pipes, and Queen Victoria attended these festivals.
the magnificent exhibition building, the site housed 33
massive models of prehistoric animals, and fountains so large
In our own small way we hope that the series of summer
that water towers over two hundred feet high and weighing
concerts will herald a new beginning of concerts at Crystal
1500 tons each were built to keep up the water pressure.
Palace, and we hope that you all will attend these concerts
in the knowledge that you are in a very special historic
During the first 30 years over 2 million visitors a year
enjoyed a wide variety of attractions and entertainments
including sculptures, works of art, zoo animals, exotic plants
and various “courts” honsing an Egyptian area, an industrial
exhibition with products from all over the world, and a
Natural History court containing models and pictures of the
development of the human race together with hundreds of
stuffed birds, animals and fish. The Concert Room alone
could accommodate an audience of over 4000.
The courts were arranged around the outside of the building
with the central part available for flower shows, dog shows,
rabbit shows, electrical, aeronautical and photographic
exhibitions. The Royal Horticultural Show and the Motor
ook
\./HohiOLBROOK
programme
SUNDAY 6TH AUGUST AT 7.30PM
KELLY’S CLASSICS
ORCHESTRA OF ST JOHN’S
CONDUCTOR JOHN LUBBOCK
Humperdinck - Hansel and Gretel Overture
Sibelius - Finlandia
Tchaikovsky - Suite from the Nutcracker
Bruch - Violin Concerto 2nd Movement
o
Grleg - Peer Gynt Suite No 1
mc Dance No 8,
Opus 46
Barber of Seville Overture
Dvoi'*ék
e NeWWorld Symphony
o Woolrlch - Premiere
Blzet - Carmen Suite No 1
‘
Mendelssoh
Mldsummer Night’s Dream Suite
~ Rossini- Overture William Tell
HENRY KELLY
Henry Kelly, presenter, writer and television personality,
broadcasts on the national independent classical music
station, Classic fm from 8am to 12pm Monday to Friday, and
for ten years presented Going for Gold on BBC1 Television.
His radio programme is Classic fm’s highest rated daily
programme - currently he has two and a half million
listeners - and in 1994 he was voted the National
Broadcaster of the Year in the prestigious Sony Radio
Awards.
He attributes much of why he is where he is today to the
rigorous education he received from the Jesuits of Belvedere
College, in Dublin, where he was born. After reading
economics and English at University College Dublin, he
joined the Irish Times, becoming Northern Editor based in
Belfast during the troubled and turbulent early 1970s. His
book How Stormont Fell is still essential reading for an
understanding of those times. In 1996 he came to England
to join the BBC Radio Four current affairs programme The
World Tom‘ght as a reporter.
In 1981 came the television series Game for a Laugh, and
numerous other television and radio programmes. He has
always combined his broadcasting activities with writing, He
has a monthly column on musical matters in The Classic fm
Magazine and has also written for the Daily Telegraph,
The
Times (where for three years he wrote about sport on
television), Daily Mail, Sporting Life, Racing Post and the
Spectator. His historical, archaeological, and slightly foodie
guide to Ireland’s Atlantic coast, Henry Kelly in the West of
Ireland, is published by Cadogan Guides. At the end of last
year Hodder and Stoughton published his Classic
fm Musical
Anecdotes, a compilation of stories and quotes from and about
the extra()rdinary characters of the classical music world.
If he loves golf and is fanatical about cricket, he is passionate
about horse-racing, arguably his greatest pleasure - after
classical music.
THE ORCHESTRA OF ST JOHNS
The Orchestra of St John’s (OS]) was founded in 1967 by its
October 1998. This includes the popular Ulysses Awakes with
Artistic Director John Lubbock, since when it has made the
viola soloist Jane Atkins, and Four Concert Arias which the
joy, stimulation and passion of live classical music available to
ON]| premiércd in 1994.
audiences and participants around the world. Established
originally as a community orchestra, the OS] has built its
Between June and August 2000 the OS] has continued its
reputation on intimate music—making in community settings
Building Bridges from Crystal Palace project with a series of
combined with world-class concerts at the finest festivals
workshops for young people from the Crystal Palace SRB
and concert halls in the UK and overseas. It produces
area, which culminates in a project performance tonight
regular recordings and broadcasts on radio and television.
followed by the concert given by the OS].
To forge closer relationships with some of the communities
During the summer, young people from the five boroughs of
with which it works, the OS] has established residencies in
the Crystal Palace SRB area have had the opportunity to be
London, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Reading which
part of a project dedicated to social and creative
make up the Orchestra’s “home base”. For each of these
development, promoting practical involvement and learning
residencies, year-round programmes of Adventures in Sound
through individual and group activities. Professional
activities complement a season of evening and family
musicians from the OS] have worked in collaboration with
concerts. Each September, it promotes its own festival,
the local community across the Crystal Palace SRB area on a
Music in the Abbey, in Dorchester-on-Thames. Since 1999
project combining classical music with ideas taken from
the Orchestra’s management offices have been based within
contemporary popular culture.
the grounds of one of the country’s leading independent
schools, Eltham College in South East London, in a unique
partnership which unites the worlds of art and education.
The OS] is a champion of new music, regularly
commissioning and performing new works, and has two
Associate Composers, Deirdre Gribbin and John Woolrich.
Appointed in 1999, Deirdre Gribbin will be commissioned
to write four new works during her association with the
Orchestra, alongside which she will inspire and lead a
number of Adventures in Sound activities. John Woolrich has
been Associate Composer since 1994. His first commission
from the Orchestra, Speed the Going, received seven
performances in London and Ita]y in November 1998. His
latest commission, Accord, was premiered in Newark on 9
October 1999 and will receive its London premicre later
this year. A CD of music by John Woolrich was released in
John Lubbock is well known as the Artistic Director of the
single-handedly gathered around him a group of
Orchestra of St John’s, Smith Square (OSJ). He began his
distinguished musicians who are not only outstanding
musical career as a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor
performers but share his ethos for making music of the
and later went on to sing with the London Symphony
highest quality, accessible to people of all ages, from all
Chorus, the John Alldis Choir and was a member of the
walks of life.
Swingle Singers. John studied conducting under the great
Rumanian, Sergio Celebidache, and has appeared as guest
John has received wide recognition for his work with young
conductor with many leading UK orchestras including the
people. He was Director of the IAPS Orchestra, started by
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the London
Benjamin Britten, for children from British preparatory
Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, Hall¢, London
schools, and has also been Director of the National Youth
Mozart Players, Manchester Camerata and Northern
Orchestra of Canada. John works with youth orchestras at
Sinfonia. International engagements have included orchestras
the Royal Academy of Music, Oxford University and the
in Ireland, throughout continental Europe and in Canada.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and last year worked
with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra during a
John founded the OS] in 1967 whilst still a student at the
highly-acclaimed tour of Argentina. John also plays an active
Royal Academy of Music in London, with the aim of
part in Adventures in Sound, the OS]’ s thriving programme
building an orchestra which would serve the community, not
of education and community activities.
just add to the “music scene”. This community bias has been
the main drive behind his tireless enthusiasm and lifelong
John received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal
commitment to making music accessible to those who might
Academy of Music in July 1999.
otherwise have had little or no musical experience. He has
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK 1854-1921
Hansel and Gretel Overture
Hansel and Gretel, an opera based on the famous Grimms fairy tale, was first performed on 23rd
December 1893 at the Hoftheater in Weimar. Engelbert Humperdinck is perhaps better known to us as
the Anglo-Indian singer born Gerry Dorsey who picked out his new name from a music dictionary.
This most famous of children’s operas was, unfortunately, the composer’s only real hit, but it certainly
made Humperdinck a rich man, with the German public, getting bored with Wagner, flocking to see
the opera with its great melodies inspired by folk tunes. This great overture is instantly recognisable
and is a great start to our series of orchestral concerts at Crystal Palace.
JEAN SIBELIUS 1865 - 1957
Finlandia
Like Grieg, Sibelius was a nationalistic composer, promoting the Scandinavian country of Finland.
Nationalistic is probably too strong a word to describe Grieg and Sibelius; their nationalism came from
the love of their respective countries in the same way that Edward Elgar and Vaughan Williams loved
England. Like all the aforementioned composers, Sibelius took much of his inspiration from the folk
tunes of his homeland. Famous among the music-loving public for his Karelia Suite and tonight’s
offering, Sibelius is far more than that, with his symphonic works achieving much acclaim. His tone
poem Finlandia is the Finnish equivalent to our Pomp and Circumstance March No 1, particularly the
section “Land of Hope and Glory”, invoking national sentiments so strong that the Russians even
banned the work for political reasons.
PETER ILYCH TCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
Nutcracker Suite
Tchaikovsky is up there with the greatest composers who ever lived. His whole life was a struggle,
particularly with his many neuroses and latent homosexuality and his catastrophic marriage to neurotic
groupie Antonina Milyukova. Despite his personal problems he has left us with a massive legacy of
music, including tonight’s offering of excerpts from the Ballet The Nutcracker. Whatever your taste in
music, whatever your age, I guarantee that 85% of the population knows at least one of the great tunes
from this ballet, including the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Chinese Dance, the haunting Waltz of the
Flowers and the Dance of the Reed Flutes, the catchy tune used in the Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut advert.
MAX BRUCH 1838-1920
Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor, Opus 26, 2nd movement
This romantic violin concerto regularly appears in the top 5 of the annual Classic fm charts. Like
Humperdinck, Bruch is known as a one-hit wonder, famous for this particular piece. He never realised
his early potential; writing symphonies at the age of 14, he was considered a genius by his mid-
twenties, being compared favourably to Brahms and Mendelssohn. Fortunately he enjoyed fame during
his lifetime but he died an embittered man in 1920, depressed at the loss of his son in the Great War
and by his failing reputation. Just sit back, close your eyes and enjoy this luxurious romantic movement
from this great violin concerto.
EDVARD GRIEG 1843-1907
Peer Gynt Suite No 1
Born in Bergen, Grieg’s great-grandfather was a Scot who emigrated to Norway after the Battle of
Culloden
and changed his name from the Scottish
Greig to something sounding slightly more
Scandinavian. The young Grieg, an up-and-coming pianist, was persuaded to take up a career in music
rather than go into the priesthood. He contracted pleurisy as a young man and this left him with a legacy
of ill health for the rest of his life. Much praised by his peers such as Brahms and Tchaikovsky, Grieg was
a prolific composer and is well known for many works including the Piano Concerto, Holberg Suite and
Lyric Pieces. Tonight we hear Peer Gynt Suite Nol which was written at the request of Ibsen as incidental
music for his stage play of the same name.
ANTONIN DVORAK 1841-1904
Slavonic Dance Opus 46 No 8
Dvortak was the greatest of all Czechoslovakian composers, using his music to bring his nationalistic
belief to a country looking to reinforce its Bohemian identity. His early musical training and influences
were from Smetana, his predecessor as the leading Czech composer of the day, and from Brahms who
encouraged the young Dvorak to devote his musical life to composition. Dvorak was a great traveller
and I will refer to his American period where he wrote his 9th Symphony, of which we will hear the
largo after the interval. Tonight we hear possibly the best-known of his Slavonic Dances, the number 8,
from his first set written in 1878, containing dance rhythms including the polka and dumka. This
bright, lively, rumbustious and very loud piece will certainly keep you all awake.
GIOACHINO ROSSINI 1792-1868
Overture - Barber of Seville
Rossini was a musical genius, and a rarity in that he was appreciated and revered in his own lifetime.
Blessed with musical and technical gifts, he could transcript whole arias from one hearing. He was
truly popular, not only through his wonderful music, but because of his humanity and likeable
personality, and was probably the most loved Italian composer of his lifetime. Rossini enjoyed a lifespan
of 75 years, but gave up composing opera at the age of 36, preferring to enjoy the good life,
particularly Italian cooking. The Barber of Seville opera was premiered on 20th February 1816 at the
Teatro Argentina in Rome and was the precursor to the sequel The Marriage of Figaro. The opera itself is
a romantic comedy in two acts with a plot which is pure Brian Rix farce. The central characters are
Count Almaviva and Dr Bartolo, both vying for the hand of the beautiful rich Rosina in 18th-century
Seville. Our hero Figaro (the demon barber) has a great comic role, plotting between the three
characters, promoting the count as his favourite suitor. After much double dealing all ends well, with
Rosina marrying the Count. It is rumoured that Rossini never actually wrote this great overture
specifically for this opera, just rehashing an overture which was left over from a previous unsuccessful
opcra.
ANTONIN DVORAK 1841-1904
Largo from Symphony No 9 in E minor, Opus 95- From the New World
Dvorak’s American adventure began in 1892 when he took up an appointment in New York at the then
massive salary of 15,000 dollars per annum. He was always homesick for his beloved homeland and he
found a small Bohemian colony in Spillville in lowa where he could be entirely at home with his wife
and six children. Dvotak was féted and revered in America and he reciprocated by writing the
symphony From the New World. Although interested in folk and Negro music, the musical influences for
this piece are strictly Bohemian. The largo is well known as the music for the Hovis advertisement.
JOHN WOOLRICH
Premiere - Untitled
John Woolrich is an Associate Composer for the Orchestra of St John’s who, as an orchestra, are
champions of new music. His first commission Speed the Going, received much acclaim in 1998 after
performances in London and Italy. A CD of John’s work was released in October 1998 and includes the
popular Ulysses Awakes and Four Concert Arias. Tonight we hear the world premiere of this as yet
untitled piece which was commissioned by the London Borough of Bromley to celebrate the
millennium.
GEORGES BIZET 1838-1875
Carmen Suite No 1
The opera Carmen is synonymous with Georges Bizet, the Frenchman famous for his Spanish music,
particularly Carmen. He was born into a musical family; his father was a singing teacher and his mother
a pianist of concert status. Growing up in Paris, his native city, Bizet wrote his first symphony at the
age of 17. Although massively talented, Bizet’s early career was wayward, certainly in his choice of
projects, and throughout the 1860s he wrote a series of unsuccessful operas. The first performance of
Carmen was in 1875 and was not an instant success. The plot, containing murder, passion, gypsies,
thieves plus the less than moral Carmen herself, horrified the puritanical middle-class opera-goer of
the period, and Bizet himself pronounced the opera a disaster. However, great music will always come
to the fore, and this opera is probably the most popular of all time. Unfortunately Bizet died on the eve
of its 33rd performance at the age of 36, and he never experienced the acclaim that the opera received
just a few months later.
FELIX MENDELSSOHN 1809-1847
Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Felix, Latin for “happy man”, was born into an extremely wealthy Jewish family, and led an idyllic life
until his early death at the age of thirty-eight. A child prodigy as an accomplished pianist, he was
favourably compared to Mozart, both as a musician and composer. Because of anti-Jewish feeling, his
father, realising that the career of Felix would be hindered, converted to the Protestant faith.
Mendelssohn was much travelled and he particulary liked Scotland, where he was inspired to write the
Hebrides Overture or Fingal’s Cave after a visit to the Isle of Mull when he was 20. Tonight’s piece, the
Suite to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the incidental music to Shakespeare’s play, was written when Felix
was 30, having written the overture 13 years earlier when he was only 17. The famous Wedding March
also comes from this particular piece and has accompanied many walks down the aisle ever since it was
popularised by the Princess Royal's wedding in 1858. Perhaps we’ll feature the Wedding March in 2001.
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI 1792-1868
Overture, William Tell
The opera Guillaume Tell was premiéred on 3rd August 1829 at the Opéra Paris at the beginning of the
bel canto period when composers such as Hector Berlioz led a march to create a more serious and
noble art form, in contrast to the spectacular showpieces, star performers etc of his immediate
predecessors. William Tell was Rossini’s last opera and his most famous after The Barber ofSeville, mainly
due to the fabulous overture. The opening is very soft and dreamy, giving no indication as to the
powerful pulsating melody and crashing finale to follow. This great tune is commonly known as ‘the
Lone Ranger song’, familiar to us 50-somethings brought up on black and white television with Kimo
Sabe, Tonto and HiHo Silver and of course the William Tell television series. Being slightly more serious,
this great tune was probably the first introduction to classical music of many of us as children, although
we were probably not aware of it at the time, possibly because of the strong visual image of Tell, Tonto
et al.
Programme notes © John Russell
August 2000
SUNDAY 13TH AUGUST At 7.30PMm
MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
INTRODUCED BY HENRY KELLY
THE BRANDENBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
CONDUCTOR AND SOLO PIANO PAUL BATEMAN
The Wild West
The Great Epics
Jerome Moross - Theme - The Big
John Barry - Zulu
Country
John Barry - Dances With Wolves
Jerome Moross - The War Lord
Miklos Rozsa - EI Cid & Ben Hur
Maurice Jarre - The Prqfessiona]s
Bond - Shaken and Stirred
The Great Directors
Hitchcock, Spielberg, Lean
Ron Goodwin - Frenzy
John Barry - Goldfinger, 007,
You Only Live Twice
The Ski Chase, Diamonds Are Forever
John Williams - Schindler’s List
Maurice Jarre - Lawrence ofArabia
Love Stories 2
Max Steiner - Casablanca
Love Stories
Maurice Jarre - Doctor Zhivago
Marvin Hamlisch - The Way We Were
James Horner - Titanic
Sergei Rachmaninov - Brief Encounter
Craig Armstrong - Romeo and Juliet
Michel Legrand - Thomas Crown Affair
Space and Beyond
John Williams - Superman
Jerry Goldsmith - Star Trek
John Williams - ET
John Williams - Star Wars
PAUL BATEMAN
Paul studied piano, organ, singing and cello at the Guildhall
Keel and Gordon MacRae, and they have just completed a
School of Music. He started his career as an accompanist,
concert tour of Wales to launch the album. He also recently
chamber musician and opera repetiteur — he was regular
conducted a Gershwin album for Barbara Hendricks.
guest coach at the Opera de la Monnaie in Brussels and was
for three years Head of Music Staff at the European Opera
He regularly records for Silva Screen in Prague and has
Centre. For ten years he was on the staff of the conductors’
conducted over 20 albums of film music including two
course at the Royal Academy of Music. During this time he
volumes of Hitchcock film scores, albums of the music of
started his conducting career in the West End with the
Bernard Herrman, Maurice Jarre, John Williams and Ennio
shows Barnum, Singin’ in the Rain, Phantom qfthe Opera and
Morricone, and collections of Korngold, Steiner and
Carmen Jones.
Tiomkin.
Paul has conducted recordings with the Philharmonia, Royal
As a pianist Paul plays with the Kammerspiel Piano Trio,
Philharmonic, London Symphony, and City of Prague
who have two albums to their credit; he also gives solo
Philharmonic Orchestras and has given concerts with the
recitals, and will be accompanying Anthony Rolfe Johnson in
BBC Concert Orchestra (Hampton Court Festival '99), the
a lieder recital at the Flanders Opera, Ghent in September.
Malmo Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, the Seville
Symphony in Spain, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic,
In two weeks’ time he will be Conducting a televised concert
Royal Scottish National, the Dallas Symphony, and with the
with Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel in Caernarvon.
Ulster Orchestra he conducted the Last Night at the Proms in
§995:
For Silva Screen Records Paul conducted and orchestrated
Lesley Garrett’s album A Soprano in Hollywood with the BBC
Concert Orchestra. His orchestrations also appear on many
of Lesley Garrett’s albums and he also orchestrated and
conducted Sarah Brightman'’s last three albums Timeless, Eden
and La Luna. For the 1996 BBC Proms he orchestrated five
Gershwin songs for Sally Burgess.
Paul conducted the highly acclaimed album Tito Beltran — a
Tenor at the Movies which includes his re-creation of many of
the orchestrations made for Mario Lanza that were lost in a
fire at the Hollywood music library in the 60s. Most recently
he conducted Welsh baritone Jason Howard’s new album
Make Believe
the Hollywood Baritones, a tribute to Howard
The Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra is one of the most
dynamically versatile musical organisations in the country. It
is renowned for its special quality of sound and poised
vivacity in performancc.
In recent years the Orchestra has performed in the majority
of the major venues across the country, and in London at the
Barbican, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Fairfield Halls and St John’s
Smith Square. The Orchestra is at home in the open air as
well as the concert hall, performing with Lesley Garrett last
year at Kingston Maurward, Hatfield and Mottisfont Abbey,
all to-sell out crowds.In 1999 they made several appearances
at the famous Crystal Palace Bowl in London, and have been
invited back by the promoters to be the resident orchestra
for the 2000 season.
In 1998 the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra established a
season of concerts at St Martin in the Fields. The
Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra is in great demand
abroad. Future tours include France, Hong Kong, Germany
and the USA.
Along with selected freelance players, members of the
Orchestra are also members of the Philharmonia, Royal
Philharmonic, Royal Opera House and English Chamber
Orchestra who choose to play with the Brandenburg
Symphony Orchestra in order to make music with the finest
of their peers in a more intimate and sympathetic setting.
The Orchestra is extremely versatile, at home with movie
scores, contemporary music, Baroque through its sister
orchestra the Brandenburg Sinfonia, as well as the music
from the popular classical repertoire.
The orchestras for a number of touring companies are
formed from members of the Brandenburg Symphony
Orchestra including Travelling Opera, Crystal Clear Opera,
London Opera Players, Court Opera Productions and First
Act Opera.
JEROME MOROSS 1913 - 1983
Theme from The Big Country 1958
Directed by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Carroll Baker and Jean
Simmons, this film contains probably the most popular and recognisable theme tune of any western
movie. The film score, containing pulsating strings and big brass fanfares, conjures up beautiful images
of the landscape of the American West. It is true to say that the theme music is actually more famous
than the film itself.
JOHN BARRY
Dances With Wolves 1991
John Dunbar Theme
Directed by and starring Kevin Costner, this great film tells the story of John Dunbar, a cavalry officer
who goes native, making his home with the Indians and befriending a lone wolf, ‘two socks’. The film
itself won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, a triumph for Costner in
his early directing years. John Barry had been seriously ill for some time and this theme was a rebirth
both in his health and composition.
MAURICE JARRE
The Professionals 1966
Maurice Jarre is probably France’s best-loved modern composer. Originally from Lyon, Jarre studied at
the Paris Conservatory of Music in Paris during the war years where he met and was hugely influenced
by fellow composer Pierre Boulez. Jarre moved in the circles of “angry young men” Harold Pinter,
Albert Camus and, perhaps most influential, film director Jean Cocteau. Like most 20th-century
composers, Maurice looked to films for his music and of course income. The rest is history with scores
from Doctor Zhiva(qo, Witness, Dead Poets Society, Passage to India, Ryan’s Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, Ghost,
Fatal Attraction and Lawrence of Arabia. Tonight we hear this lesser-known theme from The Professionals.
RON GOODWIN
Frenzy 1972
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Hitchcock was famous for making a cameo appearance in his films. Born in London, his
education at St Ignatius College provided a solid foundation which led him into the motion picture
industry in 1920. His skill was soon recognised as he took only five years to direct his first film, The
Pleasure Garden. Films such as 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Spellbound, Dial Mjbr Murder, Rear Window, North
by NorthWest, Psycho, The Birds and Marnie are some of his most famous. Frenzy is an example of one of
the classic Hitchcock films, focussing on espionage, deception, mistaken identity and then the
culmination of a chase sequence. Underlying subplots centre around his ability to manipulate the
audience with elements of the macabre and wry touches of humour.
(Programme note - Tim Key)
JOHN WILLIAMS
Schindler’s List - main theme 1994
Directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel by Thomas Keneally and starring Liam Neeson and
Ralph Fiennes, this great film caused a sensation when it was released in 1994. The story tells of Oskar
Schindler (Liam Neeson) who sets up a factory to employ Jews and saves them from the concentration
camps of World War II Germany. John Williams, the greatest of modern film and classical composers,
reflects in his score the many moods of despair, hope, and tragedy in this wonderful film depicting one
of the worst atrocities in history.
MAURICE JARRE
Lawrence ofArabia Overture 1962
Directed by David Lean, starring Peter O Toole, Omar Sharif, Jack Hawkins and Alec Guinness, this
classic film tells the story of Lawrence (Peter O’ Toole), a young army officer in Cairo who unites the
Arab tribes with the help of the British to overthrow the Turks. This lavish film won seven Academy
Awards including Best Picture.
MAURICE JARRE
Doctor Zhivago - Lara’s Theme 1965
Directed by David Lean, this great film, set in Tzarist Russia, had an all-star cast including Omar
Sharif, Julie Christie, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Rita Tushingham, Ralph Richardson,
Tom Courtenay
and Geraldine Chaplin. The music, particularly Lara’s Theme ‘Somewhere My Love’, spent over three
years on the billboard charts. Considered rather sugary by the critics, this melodic piece is truly
memorable when scored for full orchestra, as it is this evening,
SERGEI RACHMANINOYV 1873-1943
Brief Encounter - Piano Concerto No 2 1945
The story was actually written by Noél Coward and transcribed to the large screen by David Lean, and
tells the story of bored housewife (Celia Johnson) meeting dashing doctor (Trevor Howard) and their
encounter in a British Rail café which eventually leads to love and a botched attempt at a sexual liaison.
It all ends honourably when the doctor leaves for foreign climes, leaving Celia Johnson with her bored
safe marriage. This wonderful slow movement from Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto is perhaps
the most famous piece of classical music used in the cinema.
CRAIG ARMSTRONG
Romeo and Juliet
Craig Armstrong studied composition and piano at the Royal Academy of Music in 1981. His
composing career began in the late 80s in the classical vein but he soon diversified into electronic
music with his music theatre group PERFORMANCE. Several TV commissions followed, and in 1998
he won the BAFTA and Ivor Novello awards for the music score of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet,
starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes for 20th Century Fox. The film, set in modern-day
Verona Beach, is an update on Shakespeare’s tragic love story.
(Programme note - The Wilkins family)
MICHEL LEGRAND
Thomas Crown Affair - The Windmills of Your Mind 1968
Starring Steve McQueen, the original 1968 film was revived in 1999 with Pierce Brosnan in the lead
role. “The Windmills of Your Mind’ was a vocal pop hit for Noel Harrison, but the orchestral version
which we hear tonight gives full rein to the massive talent of Michel Legrand.
JOHN BARRY
Zulu 1964
Directed by Cy Endfield, this great story, set in Southern Africa, tells the true story of Rourke’s Drift,
a settlement defended by a handful of guardsmen against the might of the Zulu army. The lead roles
were played by Michael Caine, as a dashing young officer, Stanley Baker, and Jack Hawkins. John
Barry’s marvellous score conjures up great heroics and is a true match for this great film.
JEROME MOROSS
The War Lord 1965
Starring Charlton Heston, Richard Boone and Rosemary Forsythe, TheWar Lord tells the story of a
Monseigneur who fails in his duty to protect an isolated territory from foreign invaders when he loses
the loyalty of his serfs by insulting ancient custom. Jerome Moross’s score complements the heat of
battle but still concentrates on the personal drama of the film.
MIKLOS ROZSA
El Cid - Love Theme 1963
Charlton Heston stars again with the magnificent Sophia Loren in this story of the banished knight who
returns with his mercenary army to recapture Valencia from invading Moors. This beautiful melodic,
soft and romantic theme is certainly my favourite tonight. I hope you enjoy it as much as I will.
MIKLOS ROZSA
Ben-Hur - Parade of the Charioteers 1959
I think we may have gone slightly over the top on Charlton Heston films when compiling this
programme. This biblical epic directed by William Wyler is set in Jerusalem where Ben-Hur is
sentenced to be a galley slave by his Roman friend Messala. Ben-Hur eventually gets his revenge by
killing Messala in that famous chariot race. This stirring piece of music sets the scene for that
wonderful race, a pivotal part of the film.
JOHN BARRY
James Bond Medley
Goldfinger, 007,You Only Live Twice,The Ski Chase, Diamonds Are Forever
[ will not attempt to describe the James Bond pieces played tonight, only to say that among the many
James Bond film composers, who include Marvin Hamlisch, Monty Norman, Lionel Bart, Paul
McCartney and Anthony Newley, our chosen composer John Barry reigns supreme as THE James Bond
composer. The James Bond phenomenon started with Doctor No, and everybody remembers the famous
scene where Ursula Andress rises from the surf in that white bikini. Since then there has been a
proliferation of films and James Bonds, including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton,
George Lazenby and currently Pierce Brosnan. Each new James Bond film is updated to meet a film
audience’s thirst for special effects. However it should be said that the early Bond films were pioneers
technically in their gadgetry, with Q providing 007 with new technology in each and every film. The
James Bond music has been recorded by artists throughout the globe. Listen for Robbie Williams’
‘Millennium’ within You Only Live Twice.
MAX STEINER
Casablanca 1942
This is the classic film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, with Sidney Greenstreet and
Peter Lorre co-starring, Set in wartime Africa, Casablanca was a sanctuary for refugees seeking entry to
America. Bogart plays Rick Blaine, an American who nobly allows his ex-lover Ilsa, played by Bergman,
to escape to Lisbon, leaving himself at the mercy of the authorities. Casablanca contains memorable
dialogue including “You played it for her, play it for me” which is a prelude to one of the tunes in this
suite, ‘As time goes by’. The suite also contains the French national anthem and gives full rein to Paul
Bateman'’s piano skills.
MARVIN HAMLISCH
The Way We Were
This theme music in its vocal form is probably the most performed and recorded song by female
artists. I confess to hating this particular song in its vocal form, and just about tolerating it in its
orchestral form. However I know [ am in a minority of one because this music has retained its
popularity for over 20 years.
JAMES HORNER
Titanic
Despite the gross miscasting of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and despite the weak dialogue,
this film was a fantastic success, mainly due to the lavish sets and fantastic special effects. Not to be
forgottcn was the great song ‘My Heart Will Go On’’
JOHN WILLIAMS
Superman 1978
John Williams is arguably the greatest film music composer of all time. I predict that
John Williams will
be féted in far times as one of the great composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. His great
talent lies
in composing music for the cinema and his compositions include The Towering
Inferno, The Poseidon
Adventure, Earthquake, The Empire Strikes Back, The English Patient, Ar]ington House, Close Encounters
Third Kind, Star Wars, ET, Jaws, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Schindler’s List, Jurassic
qfthe
Park, Raiders of the
Lost Ark, 1941, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Saving Private Ryan plus TV - The
Time Tunnel, London
Space and Land of the Giants. We feature four of his compositions tonight. Clark Kent/Superma
n
epitomises the timeless American comic strip hero. The 1978 film starred Christopher
Reeve as our
hero, Gene Hackman as arch villain Lex Luther and the lovely Margot Kidder as the love interest
Lois
Lane. Superman’s parents on earth were played by Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter
and on Krypton,
Marlon Brando and the English actress Susannah York. There followed three sequels
for the large screen
and a TV series with Terri Hatcher as the modern Lois Lane.
JERRY GOLDSMITH
Star Trek - The Motion Picture 1979
The great television series became a cult lasting for several years. There was something
of an outcry
when Star Trek was transferred to the large screen, and many die-hard trekkies were disconcerted
that
the movie featured cowboys and indians in space rather than exploring moral and philosophical
issues
which the TV series could concentrate on over a number of episodes. However, with the
advent of
technology in films, pioneered by 2001: a Space Odyssey. the first Star Trek film took technological
realism much further, and the film was a resounding success.
Jerry Goldsmith, the composer, was born in Los Angeles in 1929 and has composed over
scores inCluding The Omen, Capricorn One, Basic Instinct, The Blue Max, The Boys From Brazil,
Total Recall, Patton and First Blood, and ultimately will be remembered as the composer
160 film
First Knight,
of the era,
certainly as a mentor to the great John Williams.
JOHN WILLIAMS
ET 1982
Here is another John Williams piece, ET the Extra-Terrestrial, another Steven Spielberg
film,
premicred in 1982. The film itself is timeless, repeated regularly on television, and the
music recently
via the British Telecom advertising campaign. The film tells the story of the extra-terrestria
l,
accidentally abandoned by its spacecraft, taking refuge with the children of a family. They
try to
communicate with the spacecraft to get ET, who is not surviving in our atmosphere,
eventually dies, but is revived by a child’s love. This wonderful uplifting piece, “the
taken home. ET
flying theme” takes
place at the end of the film, when the children fly through the sky on their bikes with ET
precariously in the handlebar basket, on their way to the spacecraft which will take
perched
ET home.
JOHN WILLIAMS
Star Wars 1977
This great pioneering film first hit the cinema screens in 1977, with Harrison Ford as Han
Fisher as Princess Leia and Sir Alec Guinness as Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi. Star Wars was the
trilogy, followed by The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983, and after
the latest revival in 1999 with The Phantom Menace.
Programme notes © John Russell
August 2000
Solo, Carrie
first of the
a long gap
SUNDAY 20TH AUGUST AT 7.30pM
THE ELEGANCE OFTHE BAROQUE
INTRODUCED BY HENRY KELLY
THE BRANDENBURG SINFONIA
WITH THE GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
CONDUCTOR RICHARD BALCOMBE
Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 3
Albinoni - Oboe Concerto
|
Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Vlvaldl Sprlng from The Four Seasons
-
Clarke Trumpet Voluntary Suite
g
Handel Zadok the Priest
Handel Suite from The Wate#Music
Vlvaldl Summer from The Four Seasons
Bach - Sleepers Awake
|
oG
Albinoni
- Adagio
Handel Hallelu]ah Chorus from Messiah
Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks
The Brandenburg Sinfonia is one of the most dynamically
Along with selected freelance players, members of the
versatile musical organisations in the country. It is renowned
orchestra are also members of the Philharmonia, Royal
for its special quality of sound and poised vivacity in
Philharmonic, Royal Opera House and English Chamber
P
performance.
Orchestra who choose to play with the Brandenburg
Sinfonia in order to make music with the finest of their
In recent years the orchestra has performed in the majority
peers in a more intimate and sympathetic setting,
of the major venues across the country, and in London at the
Barbican, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Fairfield Halls and St John’s
The orchestras for a number of touring companies are
Smith Square.
formed from members of the Brandenburg Sinfonia
In 1998 the Sinfonia established a season of concerts at St
including Travelling Opera, Crystal Clear Opera, London
Opera Players, Court Opera Productions and First Act
Martin in the Fields. The Brandenburg Sinfonia is in great
Opera.
demand abroad. Future tours include France, Hong Kong,
Germany and the USA.
THE GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
The Guildford Philharmonic Choir was founded in 1947 by
works of all time, Mahler’s Second Symphony - Resurrection
the Borough of Guildford to perform major works from the
choral repertoire with the Guildford Philharmonic
Orchestra.
Since this time, the Choir has grown both in
stature and reputation and can now rightly claim its place as
one of the foremost Choruses in the country. The Choir is
now independent from the Borough of Guildford but still
maintains close links with the Borough and its orchestra.
The Choir grew to prominence under the batons of such
eminent British musicians as Sir Charles Groves, Vernon
Handley and Sir David Willcocks.
Sir David remains in
close contact with the Choir as its current President.
Notable achievements in recent years include Handel’s Israel
in Egypt with the Freiburger Bachchor in Freiburg in May
1998 and a rousing performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius
at the Guildford Civic Hall in March 1998. In March 1999
the Choir gave a widely acclaimed performance of two
and Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor.
The Choir has enjoyed a challenging and exciting concert
programme for the 1999/2000 season.
On 20 November
1999 it performed The Creation by Haydn with the Guildford
Philharmonic Orchestra and in March 2000, it held a gala
performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion with its twin choir,
the Freiburger Bachchor to critical acclaim.
The Choir is always searching for new members to maintain
its high standard and auditions are held throughout the year.
For further details about joining the Choir or for any
information about any of our future concerts, please contact
Noreen Ayton telephone number 01932 221918.
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings throughout term
time in central Guildford and prospective members are most
welcome to attend rehearsals on an informal basis before
committing to an audition.
works which must surcly rank among the greatest choral
RICHARD BALCOMBE
Richard Balcombe is firmly established as one of the most
Pro Arte, East of England, London Musicians, Royal
versatile musicians of his generation. In opera he has
Philharmonic, Brandenburg Sinfonia and National Symphony
conducted Barber of Seville (Castleward Opera), Rigoletto
Orchestras. In the West End he has been Music Director for
(English Touring Opera), Madama Butterfly (Central Festival
Phantom qfthe Opera, City qun(gc]s, Aspects quore, Carmen Jones,
Opera), Falstaff, Tosca, Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro
Cats, Once on This Island and was Music Director for the star-
(London Opera Players), Die Fledermaus (Carl Rosa), La
studded production of Divorce Me Darling (Chichester
Boheme (London City Opera) and HMS Pinafore (D’Oyly
Festival). Richard is also a prolific orchestrator and arranger
Carte Opera Company in the UK and America). He has
and has provided orchestrations for the London Symphony,
been privileged to work with some of the world’s leading
Royal Scottish National and BBC Orchestras and for Lesley
orchestras including Gothenburg Symphony, Odense
Garrett, Willard White, Michael Ball and Gary Wilmot. He
Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Estonian National
has created reduced orchestral versions of 15 complete
Symphony, Stockholm Sinfonietta, Sonderjyllands
operas which are now used worldwide. His recording credits
Symphony, Prague Chamber Orchestra and Orquesta
include The London Cello Sound, three cast albums and an
Irving Berlin compilation for TER.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 1685-1759
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
It is widely thought that we are moulded and inspired by our parents, and life’s course is set by the age
of 11.This is not true in Handel’s case as his father, who incidentally was 65 when George was born,
hated music, and actively discouraged his son from playing. To contradict my first sentence, his mother
was probably the early driving force in his life, and smuggled a spinet into the attic in order that
George could practise, albeit with the strings covered in cloth to fool his father. His talent blossomed
and by the age of eight even his father had to admit his son’s genius as an organist. From his very early
years to his mid-twenties Handel travelled throughout Europe making his name as a musician. He
moved to England in 1711 where he started composition and wrote his first opera, Rinaldo, which was
a resounding success, and soon after received a royal patronage from George I. He later took up British
citizenship in 1728. In his private life he was obese and a veritable glutton. He also had a volatile
temper and had several arguments with musicians and fellow composers, particularly his great rival
Bononcini, and the poet John Byrom wrote of this rivalry:
“Some say, compared to Bononcini
that Myneer Handel’s but a ninny
Others aver that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a candle
Strange all this difference should be
Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee.”
Handel’s music had much freedom, he was not afraid to take the music of others and give it his own
special touch. Tonight we feature five of Handel’s compositions. Handel reintroduced the oratorio to
England. These were biblical pieces in nature, in operatic form but with large choruses and bigger
orchestra, and our first piece tonight, “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, was taken from the oratorio
Solomon written in 1749. This great bouncy tune is regularly used on ceremonial occasions, particularly
popular now as a wedding piece.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 1685-1750
Brandenburg Concerto No 3
Unlike Handel, Johann was born into a musical family which began 100 years before his birth and
continued for many years after. His father was a gifted violinist but died early, along with Johann’s
mother, coincidentally in 1694 when Bach was nine. The young Bach was brought up by his older
brother Johann Christoph who gave him lessons on the harpsichord and continued his links to the
Lutheran Church. Bach was a musical fanatic, spending hours studying scores, practising the organ,
violin and clavichord. In between he would walk miles to listen to organ recitals, particularly by his
hero Buxtehude. Bach led an ordinary personal life, his roots in the Lutheran Church, and he was not
interested in personal promotion, satisfied only by immersing himself in his playing and composition.
At the age of 22 he married his cousin and he found the time to father seven children. A year after the
death of his first wife he married Anna Magdalena Wilcken, who bore him 13 children. Bach never
achieved real fame in his lifetime, although he was a well-respected composer and musician, and it was
not until over a hundred years after his death that particularly the composers of the time paid
reverential tribute to his work. Now Bach is arguably among the 10 best composers who ever lived. We
feature two compositions by Bach tonight, the first of which is the Brandenburg Concerto No 3, one of six
concertos commissioned by the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1720.
TOMASO GIOVANNI ALBINONI 1671-1751
Oboe Concerto in D Minor Opus 9 No 2
Albinoni had two big hits in his lifetime and tonight we feature both of them. He was born and died in
Venice where he composed over 50 operas, none of which were successful or remembered. Albinoni
was a pioneering type of composer, particularly his work with solo violin concertos and symphonic
work. Listen to the great tune in the slow movement tonight.
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART 1756-1791
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Serenade No 13 in G - K525
I 'am going to stick my neck out and say that Mozart is the greatest composer who ever lived and, along
with Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest genius of the last millennium. As a child prodigy he could
memorise a minuet in half an hour and then play it faultlessly. His first compositions were published
when he was seven, and his first opera was written in 1763 when he was seven. It is a great shame that
his life was so short; however, he has left us with a massive musical legacy covering every musical
form. Such is the number of compositions that they were chronicled by Ludwig van Kochel, finally
completed in 1862; therefore each composition has a K number which chronologically dates it. For
instance The Magic Flute was composed in the year Mozart died and has a K number of 620, whereas
his
early opera, Bastien and Bastienne, composed when he was seven, has a K number of 50. Mozart was
very keen on the composition of larger works such as piano concertos, symphonies and operas, giving
him the opportunity to develop themes within the piece. Strictly speaking Mozart’s music is not of the
Baroque era, which ended in 1750 just before Mozart was born. However it is true to say that the style
of the next piece certainly was in the Baroque style. He would certainly have been surprised at the
popularity of tonight’s piece, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik -”A Little Night Music” which was composed as a
throwaway piece to accompany possibly a dance, or perhaps as background music, or possibly for the
wedding of a friend. Instantly recognisable; just sit back and imagine you are in Salzburg or Old Vienna
and listen to this timeless, wonderful music that the great genius Wolfgang Amadeus has given us.
ANTONIO VIVALDI 1678-1741
Spring from The Four Seasons
How can you follow Handel, Bach, Albinoni and Mozart? How about another great genius of the
Baroque age, Antonio Vivaldi, who is probably perceived as “the Baroque composer” probably more than
his contemporaries Bach and Handel, Purcell, Clarke, the Scarlattis and his predecessors Praetorius,
and the godfather of the Baroque style Claudio Monteverdi. Composers ofVivaldi’s era were generally
employed by the princely courts or religious institutions and were expected to churn out music to
order, either as background music to courtly occasions, or for weddings or church services,
particularly in Vivaldi’s Venice. From this background Vivaldi trained for the priesthood but also made
his name as a violinist, becoming one of the great virtuosos of Europe. Receiving great popularity and
acclaim during his lifetime, his career waned in his later life and he died a pauper. Tonight we hear the
first of two Vivaldi pieces, the very famous ‘Spring’ from The Four Seasons, the first of four concertos in
this set which is a part of the 12 concerti (Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione) (The Contest Between
Harmony and Invention ).
JEREMIAH CLARKE 1674-1707
Trumpet Voluntary
There is some doubt about the actual birthplace ofJeremiah Clarke. He certainly died in London at the
age of 33, shooting himself in St Pauls Churchyard where he was the organist, after being refused in
love. A prolific composer, he is remembered for this one hit, the Trumpet Voluntary, certainly played in
my youth at grammar school speech days. The piece was originally penned for keyboard as ‘The Prince
of Denmark’s March’.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 1685-1759
Zadok the Priest
Our second Handel piece is in complete contrast to the light and breezy Queen of Sheba, and brings to
the stage the Guildford Philharmonic Choir. Zadok the Priest was written in 1727 for the coronation of
George II and has regularly been heard at almost every subsequent coronation. I would say that
alongside ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana, it is currently the most popular choral piece, regularly
requested on Classic fm.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 1685-1759
Suite from The Water Music
This suite was written to accompany a rovyal procession a]ong the Thames. In its original form it
comprises 20 short pieces, and was later arranged in the modern orchestral form in five movements by
Sir Hamilton Harty. Tonight’s selection from the suite is still something of a secret but [ am sure that it
will contain the popular Minuet, Allegro, Bourree and Hornpipe.
ANTONIO VIVALDI 1678-1741
Summer from The Four Seasons RV315
Vivaldi was an extremely prolific composer, with over 770 works to his credit including 46 operas and
over 400 concertos. However a criticism of Vivaldi is that his music is very samey, revolving around half
a dozen tunes. This is most unfair as he was an Cxtrcmc]y innovative composer, pioneering forms which
eventually the 18th-century symphony developed. Apart from the serious afficionado there are few of
us who could name three popular Vivaldi pieces. I Quattro Stagioni -The Four Seasons is overwhelmingly
Vivaldi’s signature composition, re-popularised in the 90s by Nigel Kennedy. This evening we hear our
second offering, ‘Summer’, no 2 tonight and no 2 in the quartet.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH 1685-1750
Sleepers Awake - Wachet Auf BWV-140 Cantata
We have already heard the Brandenburg Concerto No 3 this evening, and Bach shows his versatility in the
composition of this great choral work sung in its original German lyrics by the Guildford Philharmonic
Choir. I must confess that this piece of music was my introduction to classical music at the tender age
of 18, some xxx years ago. Having won an LP in a raffle, I was presented with Bach’s Greatest Hits with
Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. This particular track, in its larger orchestral
form, had a profound effect on me. Latterly the tune was used for the Lloyds Bank television advert
3
with the running black horse. | hopc you enjoy this piece as much as I will.
TOMASO ALBINONI 1671-1751
Adagio for Strings in G Minor
|
‘
The second ofAlbinoni’s only two hits, the Adagio, is allegedly not written by the maestro. Apparently
an Albinoni scholar, Remo Giazotto, discovered a fragment of the Adagio in 1945 and rewrote it
himself) using the Albinoni name for Crcdil)ility. The Adagio, much loved by the public and denigrated
by the afficionados, is a wonderful piece of music, and I know that you will enjoy it this evening.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 1685-1759
|
Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah
When Robert Porter, the manager of the Brandenburg Sinfonia, and myself compiled this programme
we had several “discussions” about the content of tonight’s programme. After much dialogue, never
heated but certainly frank, tonight’s programme was formed to emulate last year’s fantastic success.
One area in which we agreed without question was the proliferation of Handel pieces, five in all this
evening, It is safe to say that England adopted Handel, and he loved our country so much that he
became a British citizen in 1728. 1 previously said that the Carmina Burana and Zadok the Priest were
Currently the most popular choral pieces in the choral repertoire. That may be true, but The Messiah,
with its grand ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, is surely the most famous choral piece of all time, mainly because of
its religious significance.Incidentally, this piece was played at the opening of the Great Exhibition in
1851 in the presence of Queen Victoria. The Exhibition subsequently moved to a new site in Penge, the
Crystal Palace, where you are enjoying this concert tonight.
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL 1685-1759
Music for the Royal Fireworks
Our final Handel piece, and the fireworks finale to our ‘Elegance of the Baroque’ programme.
You can
only end a Baroque Fireworks programme with this fabulous piece, composed to celebrate the end of
the War of the Austrian Succession and the Peace ofAix-la-Chappelle. This famous piece had its first
performance in 1749 for the current king, with fifty wind instruments. Tonight we hear Handel’s
orchestral version for Baroque orchestra.
Programme notes © John Russell
August 2000
1
SUNDAY 27TH AUGUST AT 7.30PM
LAST NIGHT OFTHE PROMS
INTRODUCED BY HENRY KELLY
THE BRANDENBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
CONDUCTOR NICHOLAS DODD
SOPRANO FIONA O’NEILL
Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Overture
Strauss - Waltz, Blue Danube
Mussorgsky - Great Gate of Kiev
Strauss - Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus
Holst - Jupiter from The Planets
Mascagni - Intermezzo, Cavalleria Rusticana
Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture
Interval
|
Walton- Crown Imperial
PuCCIIll< One Fine Day from Madama Butterfly
Elgar Nimrod from Enigma Variations
| Tchalkovsky- Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
Borodin - Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Greensleeves
Wood - Hornpipe from Fantasia on British Sea Songs
Arne
- Rule, Britannia!
|
Parry
- Jerusalem
Elgar March Pomp & Circumstance No 1
NICHOLAS DODD
We are delighted and honoured to welcome Nicholas Dodd
Rest assured that the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra,
again, to the Crystal Palace tonight as our guest conductor.
who are a great band in their own right, are in the safest and
Nicholas is in great demand in the radio and TV
most skilful of hands.
commercials world, arranging and composing music for
several advertisements.
He has worked with the pop group Pulp and orchestrated
songs by Gary Brooker of Procul Harum with the London
Symphony Orchestra.
Classically trained, graduating from the Royal College of
Music, Nicholas has worked with major orchestras in Paris,
Switzerland and in the States, in New York, Houston, Las
Vegas and North Carolina. Last year Nicholas conducted our
Music From The Movies programme and tonight he shows
his versatility in Conducting our Last Night OfThe Proms.
FIONA O’NEILL
Fiona O’Neill studied at the Royal Northern College of
In concert she has appeared with the Philharmonia
Music. Her operatic roles include Gerda (Fennimore and
Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Sinfonietta,
Gerda), Frasquita (Carmen), Musetta (La Bohéme), Adele (Die
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, RPO and Israel
Fledermaus), and Papagena (Magic Flute), for English National
Symphony Orchestra.
Opera, Salome for Edinburgh Festival, Violetta (La Traviata),
Antonia/ Olympia/ Giulietta (Tales of Hoffman) for Mid Wales
She has also appeared as Anna Freud in BlueVienna at the
Opera, Mimi (La Bohéme), Castleward Opera, Nedda (1
Hampstead Theatre, Cathy in Wuthering Heights and as Baby
Pagliacci), Dhia (Iris) Holland Park Opera, Madam Butterfly
Doll at the Royal National Theatre.
(Madam Butterfly) Opera Box and Crystal Clear Opera,
Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) for English Touring Opera,
Film work includes Miranda in BBCTV’s Vampyr which was
Lakmé (Lakmé) for University College Opera, Louise (Louise)
awarded the Prix d’Italia and Classical Music Award.
for Morley College and Mimi (La Bohéme) for Castleward
Opera, Edna (Tobias and the Angel) for the Almeida Festival.
Recordings include Vampyr, Nine and Simply Opera.
PETER ILYCHTCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
This work was written when Tchaikovsky was a very young man learning his musical trade. The
freedom of the music is apparent and is free of the neuroses which developed in his later life. However,
it was written immediately after he had been jilted by the singer Desiree Artot, and perhaps this
incident in his young life gave him the opportunity to compose the music to Shakespeare’s tragic love
story. This piece is not an overture as such, but is a separate piece with fantasy emphasing the freedom
in which the work is written.
JOHANN STRAUSS THE YOUNGER 1825-1899
Waltz Blue Danube
The younger Johann Strauss, “the Waltz king”, is the most famous and prolific of the Strauss family.
Although his father, Johann 1st (who was a one-hit wonder, composing The Radetsky March), and his
brothers, Eduard and Josef, were prolific, penning between them over 600 works, none of them come
to mind. There was another truly great composer of the same name, Richard, born 39 years later than
Johann II, but they were not related in any way. Incidentally, Richard was a great fan of Johann and was
obviously influenced By him, and after writing his wonderful Der Rosenkavalier waltzes wrote of Johann,
“how could I have composed those without thinking of the laughing genius of Vienna”. The Blue Danube
waltz is certainly the most played and popular of all waltzes and was featured as the theme music to
2001: a Space Odyssey. This tune is the anthem of Vienna, being played incessantly in every bar and
restaurant in the Austrian Capital.
MODEST MUSSORGSKY 1839-1881
Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition
Mussorgsky led a troubled life cursed by ill health, mainly due to his alcoholism. A member of the
‘group of five’ (see notes to Polovtsian Dances), his four colleagues, particularly Rimsky-Korsakov, were
instrumental in saving his career as a musical composer. Famous for three works, including the opera
Boris Godunov and Night on the Bare Mountain, tonight we hear the third masterpiece, The Great Gate of
Kiev, which ends a set of piano pieces written in 1874. The work commemorates an exhibition of the
work of the artist Victor Hartmann, and tonight we hear the full orchestration by Maurice Ravel. This
grand piece has been used many times in advertising and as the theme tune for television
documentaries and more recently as the theme for The New Statesman, a comedy spoof where Rik
Mayall plays B’stard, a totally unscrupulous, scheming and womanising Member of Parliament.
JOHANN STRAUSS 1825-1899
Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus - The Bat was first performed in 1874 and remains the most popular of the operettas by
Johann the Younger, “the Waltz King”. His father, Johann the first, was famous for only one tune, The
Radetsky March. His son was much more prolific, writing 400 waltzes alone, among them the famous
Blue Danube. Tonight Fiona O’Neill performs the Laughing Song as Adele, the maid of Rosalinde, in a
plot which would rival the most complicatcd of Brian Rix farces.
GUSTAV HOLST 1874-1934
Jupiter from The Planets Suite
Despite his name, Holst was an Englishman born in this country, his great-grandfather leaving Sweden
in 1807. He was a contemporary and lifelong friend ofVaughan Williams. He is synonymous with his
work The Planets Suite, composed during the first world war, although he did write other notable
music, including The St Paul’s Suite and A Somerset Rhapsody. However, if you're going to be a one-hit
wonder, one could do worse than The Planets Suite, a major work of some length. The most played are
Mars, Venus and of course Jupiter, the “bringer of jollity” with the grand tune and strong orchestral
sounds. In 1921 Holst added the words by Cecil Spring-Rice, “I vow to thee my country”, which has
become an alternative national anthem.
MASCAGNI
Intermezzo, Cavalleria Rusticana
Mascagni, like his fellow composer Leoncavallo was another one-hit wonder with Cavalleria Rusticana
“Cav” and Pagliacci “Pag”. These short operas are almost always played together as a double bill and
known in the trade and among opera lovers as Cav and Pag. First performed in 1890, this fabulous oneact opera, with its romantic score and story of deceit and passion, places it firmly amongst the pop
operas. The opera has some great tunes, including the Easter Hymn and the equally famous Intermezzo,
widely used in TV commercials.
PETER ILYCH TCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
Overture 1812
Perhaps the most popular classical piece of music of all time, particularly suited to the open-air concert
platform because of its melody and power. This great piece of music, probably because of its popularity,
is sometimes denigrated by musical historians and afficionados. It was written by Tchaikovsky in 1881,
the same year a cathedral was to be dedicated in Moscow in memory of Napoleon’s withdrawal, and it
was that event that he chose to commemorate in this wonderful piece of music which ends the first
half.
WILLIAM WALTON 1902-1983
Coronation March - Crown Imperial
Sir William Turner Walton was knighted in 1947 for services to music and was probably the most
important British composer of the 20th century behind Edward Elgar. Born in Oldham, Lancashire
from a musical family, Walton at the age of ten became a chorister at Christ Church Oxford where
probably his early musical influences began. As a young man he was taken in by the Sitwell family and
lived with them for over 10 years. Walton married in 1948 and lived in Italy, where he composed the
opera Troilus and Cressida in 1954. His musical style was extremely varied, from melodic to strident,
combining pungent rhythms with melancholy and some jazz rhythms. This great piece was written for
the 1937 coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth, now the Queen Mother.
GIACOMO PUCCINI 1858-1924
One Fine Day (Un Bel Di) - Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly, one of the most popular operas of all time, was premicred at La Scala, Milan on 17th
February 1904. The opera was heavily criticised, accusing Puccini of rehashing La Bohéme. The
composer revised the score, and the opera was performed some three months later in Brescia to some
acclaim. The story is familiar to us all, with Pinkerton, an American, marrying Cio Cio San, nicknamed
Butterfly, and returning home almost immediately, leaving Butterfly (unbeknown to Pinkerton) with
child. Butterfly waits patiently, and Pinkerton eventually returns three years later with his American
wife Kate. Butterfly commits suicide - “death with honour is better than life without it”.The story has
been adapted for the large screen as Love Is a Many Splendoured Thing with William Holden and of course
the stage production of Miss Saigon. This beautiful aria ‘Un Bel Di - One Fine Day’, is one of the most
popular love laments ever written.
EDWARD ELGAR 1857-1934
Nimrod from Enigma Variations
Elgar was born into a working-class family in Worcester in 1857. His early musical influences came
from his father, who was a piano tuner and also an organist. It wasn’t until his marriage to Caroline
Alice Roberts in 1889 that he started composing seriously, and his best years were during the 31-year
marriage; he did not compose anything of note after she died in 1920. The Enigma Variations are a set of
nine pieces of music, each portraying his friends, and the last one, the ninth, himself. Nimrod is the
popular piece from this set and was dedicated to his publisher and friend, August Jaeger.
PETER ILYCH TCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
who ever lived. His whole life was a struggle
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with
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groupie Antonina Milyukova. Despite his personal problems he has left us with a massive legacy, of
music. Tchaikovsky wrote three popular ballets, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and t()night’s offering, The
Tchaikovsky’s
Sleeping
YSg great loves, the
Ly The suite is full of g glorious tunes, ) and we end with one of
ping Beauty.
composition of the Waltz.
ALEXANDER BORODIN 1833-1887
Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
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probably why he took so long to finish his compositions, regularly returning to the Bunsen burner
between works of primarily Russian music. The famous Polovtsian Dances were taken from the opera
Prince Igor which was started in 1869 but not completed until after his death in 1890 by his composer
on the concert stage
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS 1872-1958
Fantasia on Greensleeves
With the work of so many notable English composers featured tonight, it is difficult to make
comparisons beween Walton, Hubert Parry, Vaughan Williams, Thomas Arne, and Elgar. Possibly with
William Walton second in the league table in popularity behind Elgar, Vaughan Williams takes much of
the inspiration for his music from the English folk song. His symphonic works, particularly the 4th and
5th Symphonies, created the feeling of an English summer, together with Greensleeves and The Lark
Ascending. Greensleeves is a combination of two folk songs, the original tune alleged to have been written
by Henry VIII, plus “Lovely Joan”, a folk tune discovered by Vaughan Williams in Norfolk in the early
part of the 20th century. This haunting piece introduces our traditional English finale to the concert.
SIR HENRY WOOD 1869-1944
Hornpipe from Fantasia on British Sea Songs
Henry Wood is famous for creating the Promenade Concerts in 1895 at the Queen’s Hall, although it
must be said that the prom originated during the 17th century in London pleasure gardens such as
Sadler’s Wells and Marylebone Gardens. It wasn’t until 1941 that the Proms moved to the Royal Albert
Hall. As early as the 1890s Henry Wood was determined to bring music to the masses at a time when
financial distinctions were much greater than they are today, and the proms were set up for those who
could not afford admission to the more formal concerts. Today the Proms are classless, enjoyed by
enthusiasts from all strata of society. Henry Kelly will invite the audience to participate and clap to the
beat and try to keep up with the orchestra, who can play faster than we can clap. Let’s see if we can
keep up with the orchestra tonight.
THOMAS ARNE 1710-1778
Rule, Britannia!
It is amazing that this song was written over 260 years ago. The masque Alfred was written to
commemorate the succession of the House of Hanover to the throne, and contained the patriotic “Ode
in honour of Great Britain”, Rule, Britannia! One of the alternative national anthems, it was once said
by Wagner that the first eight notes sum up the whole British character. Tonight Fiona O’Neill takes
centre stage and you are all invited to join in the choruses. Rule, Brittania! Brittania, rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never will be slaves.
HUBERT PARRY 1848-1918
Jerusalem
Unfortunately Hubert Parry is known as a one-hit wonder for his beautiful Jerusalem, another
alternative national anthem. This great piece was nearly lost to us when Parry, dissatisfied with it,
threw it on the fire but fortunately for us it was rescued by a friend. The song was first performed at
the Queen’s Hall in 1916 and quickly became the song for ‘votes for women’ campaign, and latterly has
been taken up as the theme tune for the Women’s Institute. Again the audience are invited to join Fiona
O’Neill in this great tune.
And did those feet in ancient time, walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the Holy Lamb of God on England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here among those dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
[ will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land.
EDWARD ELGAR
March - Pomp and Circumstance No 1
If we continue the debate about alternative national anthems, this piece surely represents the hopes and
fears of us all in the tune ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. One of a series of five military marches, Elgar
immediately knew he had a winner when he wrote out the score, exclaiming “I've got a tune that will
knock em flat”, but he later came to hate the lyrics. You cannot end a Last Night with any other tune,
and if you applaud loudly enough Nicholas Dodd may well give us all an encore. Please join Fiona
O’Neill with the choruses.
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yetGod, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
Programme notes © John Russell
August 2000
- ALSO
AT CRYSTAL PAL
GREATTRIBUTE NIGHTS |
SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST AT 7.30
"THE 608, 70s SOs REVISITED
QUEEN B |
-
OVERT[IRE lE’
LES
BOOTLEGABBA :
SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST
~
THE DREAM FA
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‘ ATRIBHTE To
v
90sANDTODAY =~
THE
2.00 pm.
- 2 30 pm g
2.30 pm- 2.40 pm
240 pm. -3
3.35 pm - 4.10 pm
4.10 pm - 4.20 pm
:
-
|
-
Big Bopper Disco sounds
25 o
3.25 pm - 3.35 pm
&
k
Spicey Girls
Dawn Joseph as M People
|
~
~
Big Bopper
Boyzlife
Big Bopper
4.20 pm - 5.10 pm
Lorelei Lee as Madonna
5.10 pm - 5.20 pm
Big Bopper
5.20 pm - 6.00 pm
Step by Step
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Big Bopper
|
CLASSICS
LESEEY.
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Fflil‘fi&ld Something for Everyone N o
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Wednesday 13 September
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p
GISELLE
These dancers will keep you enthralled throughout this magical ballet
Sunday 8 October
winin (TN DIUES
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CHEANFREDS
featuring the Manfreds, Chris
Farlowe, Alan Price, Cliff Bennett
A night of classic R ‘n” B hits
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CROYDON
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7,
Tuesday 28 November-Saturday 2 December
uardian
Pure stage magic, you'll be dancing in your seats!
Saturday 9 Décember-S_unday 14 January
Jack & The Beanstalk
e
Jim Davidson’s Spectacular New Production, Starring
Chris Jarvis from CBBC & Kate Ritchie, Sally in Home and Away
Fairfield, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG
Box Office 020 8688 9291
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