News
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
English Music Festival 2010: Programme Announced
A world premiere of a symphony, a lost piano concerto and rare opera will feature at this month’s English Music Festival (27th - 31st May), in Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
‘World Premiere’ Announced
A world premiere of York Bowen's First Symphony will take place at the Festival’s opening concert on the evening of Friday 28th May at 7.30pm in Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire, when the BBC Concert Orchestra will be conducted by Gavin Sutherland. The concert is due to be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Bowen's First Symphony was composed at the turn of the 20th century, when Bowen was still a student at the Royal Academy of Music, and the first movement received a premiere in 1901 at the Queen's Hall. The Musical Times reviewer noted the "great skill and originality" and "great beauty", "rare grace and interest" of the movement. This will be the first time the work has been performed in its entirety.
A Re-discovered Piano Concerto
Also in this programme will be a rare performance of the Piano Concerto No.1 in F sharp minor by Montague Phillips, given by pianist David Owen Norris. Written in 1907, the work has not received a live performance since 1912, as far as is known; the music being hidden away in the family attic!
As well as other English works in the programme by Moeran, Havergal Brian and Alwyn, Festival Director, Em Marshall is particularly pleased to be programming the first performance in modern times of Roger Quilter's Serenade, saying “It was first performed at a Promenade concert in 1907, conducted by Sir Henry Wood, but after a second performance later that year, Quilter withdrew it. Now, after over a century, we can again hear this delightful music, from the pen of a master lyricist.”
Holst’s ‘Staggeringly Powerful’ Opera
Other hightlights of the Festival will include a rare semi-staged performance of Gustav Holst’s opera Savitri - which sets an episode from the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata - taking place in Dorchester Abbey at 7pm on Sunday 30th May. This will feature Baritone David Wilson-Johnson, as Death, Janice Watson, Soprano, Mark Chaundy, Tenor, and George Vass, conducting Orchestra Nova, with the City of Canterbury Chamber Choir.
Family Concert
For the first time at the Festival, a brass band concert of works by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Bantock and Percy Fletcher has been devised. Em Marshall said: "We are delighted to announce, following a number of requests by audience members, our first ever brass band concert. The Jaguar (Coventry) Band will perform for us in an epic programme of music ranging from the intriguingly unfamiliar to the much-loved."
The Jaguar (Coventry) Band is one of the Midlands’ best brass bands, made up of 30 of the finest brass and percussion players from across the region and the programme promises to provide Bank Holiday afternoon entertainment for all the family.
An Invitation to ‘Come and Sing’!
Another first for the Festival this year is a “Come and Sing” event on the evening of 31st May. Multi-talented performer and conductor, Brian Kay, will be putting singers through their paces when he directs Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs and Elgar's Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands. This event is open to all and anyone interested in taking part should contact the Sue Parker on tel: 01535 272054 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Music will be provided.
Evocative Songs and Choral Works
Audiences will see the return of Early Music ensemble Joglaresa, bringing their own selection of evocative songs, accompanied by fiddle, harp and percussion in a late-night mediaeval programme entitled ‘The Murky Midnight Hour’.
Choral works and songs will be provided by Oxford Liedertafel, the Syred Consort - performing Finzi and Vaughan Williams - and Hilary Davan Wetton returns to conduct the City of London Choir.
For details please visit the EMF website. English music enthusiasts have the opportunity to join the ‘Friends of the EMF’, which is chaired by conductor and broadcaster Brian Kay.
