95th CONCERT SEASON
Leicester Cathedral
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME
Conductor: John Andrews
Music by Laura Rossi
After being commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to write a score for the poignant 1916 silent film Battle of the Somme, contemporary British composer Laura Rossi’s work will be performed to accompany a screening of the film.
This performance is part of the The Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour
JOHN SUCHET’S “THE LAST WALTZ”
The Story of the Strauss Dynasty
Conductor: John Andrews
Compere: John Suchet
Programme to include:
Johann Strauss II Overture Die Fledermaus
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
Pizzicato Polka
Bauern Polka
Unter Donner und Blitz
The Blue Danube
Johann Strauss I Radetzky March
6.30pm FREE pre-concert talk with John Suchet
The Classic FM© host John Suchet is now as much known for his passion for music as he is for his work in journalism. In this lively concert the Leicester Symphony Orchestra prepares to have a Viennese ball as John introduces a whole host of waltzes and polkas composed by the Strauss family.
Already renowned as one of the foremost Beethoven experts, John has turned his attention to the Strauss family to understand one of the most important – and turbulent – dynasties in musical history. John will be revealing insights into the life and times of the famous clan during the concert to bring a new angle to some of the most famous and popular music ever performed.
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Conductor: John Andrews
Flute Katherine Bryan
Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un Faune
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnol
Poulenc (arr. Berkeley) Sonata for Flute
Borne Carmen Fantasy for Flute and Orchestra
Massenet Méditation from Thaïs
Debussy La Mer
6.30pm FREE pre-concert talk
We proclaim, “Vive la France!” for this concert of works by some of the most creative and expressive French composers.
The country that created impressionist art also gifted impressionist music, and the sound worlds conjured by Ravel and Debussy are some of the purest examples of this. The ethereal ambience is enhanced by Jules Massenet’s Méditation, which follows a lively interjection from our soloist for the evening, flautist Katherine Bryan. Katherine will have no problem fitting in with the theme of the evening, having already received critical acclaim for her recordings of some of the key works from the French repertoire.
DVOŘÁK’S STABAT MATER
Conductor: John Andrews
Tuba: Simon Styles
Soprano: Stephanie Edwards
Alto: Olivia Ray
Tenor: Shaun Dixon
Bass: Piotr Lempa
Holst Festival Te Deum
Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto
Dvořák Stabat Mater
6.30pm FREE pre-concert talk
The forces of the Leicester Symphony Orchestra and Leicester Philharmonic Choir combine to perform Dvořák’s affecting and powerful religious work, his Stabat Mater. The religious theme continues with Holst’s choral work Festival Te Deum. Simon Styles also shows that the tuba makes a fine solo instrument in his performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto.
