download 2012-13 brochure

Bedfordshire Orchestral Society &Bedford Choral Society

2012/13 Concert Season

www.bedfordsymphony.com

The Bedford Sinfonia

The widely acclaimed

performing standard of this

orchestra is the result of the

talent and enthusiasm of its

members and the skilled

direction of its founder, Michael

Rose. Membership is by

invitation. It specialises in programming chamber

orchestra works, wind ensemble and string orchestra

items and a healthy selection of 20th century pieces.

Bedfordshire SymphonyOrchestra The BSO, also conducted by Michael Rose, is a

larger group of 80-90 local players of all ages,

including talented young musicians. Its programme is

diverse and includes major symphonies and

concertos. It rehearses in Bedford every Wednesday

evening during term time. Those interested in playing

should contact Caroline Stratford on 01933 399404.

Introduction Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough

It is my pleasure to introduce this brochure for the Bedfordshire OrchestralSociety and Bedford Choral Society 2012/13 concert season. As you will see,

local music lovers are once again able to look forward to a varied and high quality

range of concerts performed by the Bedford Sinfonia, Bedfordshire Symphony

Orchestra and Bedford Choral Society. The range and quality of the concerts are

only possible due to the talent and commitment of the societies’ members, and

this will no doubt be evident in abundance over the season.

Bedford Choral Society

Formed in 1867, Bedford

Choral Society is one of the

oldest established Choral

Societies in the country. We

perform three or four times a

year, usually in Bedford’s Corn

Exchange.There are

approximately 130 members of the choir. Our Musical

Director is Ian Smith, our Principal Guest Conductor

is Michael Rose and our Assistant Chorus Master is

Tim Grant-Jones.

We rehearse on Monday evenings at St. Gregory’s

School, Biddenham Turn, Bedford. We welcome new

singers, and if you would like to sing with us or

support us by becoming a ‘Friend of the Society’,

please contact the chorus secretary, Debbie Ward, on

01234 261420 for further information.

Debussy and MahlerSat 17 November 2012 - 7.30pm

Bedford Corn Exchange

Conductor Michael Rose

Debussy Nocturnes (with Cantamus and

Concord Singers)

Mahler Symphony No.1

“First symphonies” is a theme for this season.

Tonight the BSO presents Mahler, the budding

symphonist, aged only 28 producing a work

amazingly full of confidence and new ideas. He

once remarked to Sibelius that “A symphony

must contain everything”, and he certainly

made sure this one did – even the French folk-

song Frère Jacques figures prominently. As a

complete contrast, we hear Debussy’s

Nocturnes – wonderful atmospheric music

picturing the “slow melancholy” of grey clouds,

the gaiety of the village fair and the timeless

motion of the sea.

The Welcome ConcertSat 29 September 2012 - 7.30pm

St Paul’s Church, Bedford

Soloists: Julian Metzger (cello)

Martin Hughes (violin)


Wagner Siegfried Idyll

Haydn Cello Concerto in C

Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Mozart Symphony No. 40

A new concert season! Come and hear

Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, a gift to his wife Cosima.

Imagine the music floating up the stairs of their

villa on Christmas morning 1871. Reflect on the

excitement of the discovery in 1961 of Haydn’s

C major cello concerto as we enjoy a

performance of this welcome addition to the

cello repertoire. Not to be outdone by the

cello, we hear Vaughan Williams’ ecstatic and

beguiling violin portrait of the Lark Ascending.

Finally, Mozart’s, late g minor symphony, full of

intense rhythms, melodies and harmonies

engendering every emotion.

Adults £10

Children/Students £3

www.bedfordchoralsociety.org.uk

Balcony/Tier £13

Flat £10


A Festival of BrittenSat 26 January 2013 - 7.30pm


Soloist Jaroslaw Nadrzycki


Britten Four Sea Interludes

Britten Sinfonia da Requiem

Britten Violin Concerto

Britten Gloriana Dances

We celebrate the centenary of the birth of

one of the greatest British composers –

Benjamin Britten - and pack our concert with

some of his outstanding works: the evocative

Four Sea Interludes from his opera Peter Grimes;

the Sinfonia da Requiem written during the war

and maybe reflecting his reactions; the Violin

Concerto, for which we are delighted to

announce that the soloist will again be the

fabulous Jaroslaw Nadrzycki; and finally the

Dances from his opera Gloriana.

The Art of the VoiceSat 24 November 2012 - 7.30pm


Soloist Rachel Nicholls

Conductor Ian Smith

Parry Blest Pair of Sirens

Strauss Four last Songs

Tippett A Child of our Time

Parry’s beautiful anthem Blest Pair of Sirens is

followed by Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs for

soprano and orchestra, the crowning glory of

Strauss’s period of late productivity towards

the end of his life. We welcome the

outstanding soprano Rachel Nicholls to

perform the songs. The spotlight then reverts

to the Choral Society for Michael Tippett’s A

Child of our Time, the moving story of a young

Jew living in Paris before World War II who

antagonised the German authorities. Tippett’s

music follows the narrative with great

sympathy, and you will recognise

some of the best known spirituals

as they ‘steal away’ into the work.

Balcony/Tier £15

Flat £12



Tier £13

Flat £10


Balcony/Tier £13

Flat £10


Pianos and Choirs withBeethovenSat 16 March 2013 - 7.30pm


Soloist Tim Grant-Jones

Conductor Ian Smith

Beethoven Choral Fantasia

Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3

Beethoven Mass in C

A piano concerto needs a pianist, so we

welcome the gifted pianist Tim Grant-Jones for

a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto

No 3; a choral mass needs a choir, the Choral

Society will no doubt raise the roof in

Beethoven’s celebrated Mass in C; but the

Choral Fantasia requires both! The work starts

with a long passage for solo piano before the

other performers get a look in, but they make

their mark when they finally enter. In many

ways it foreshadows the last movement of the

Choral Symphony – Beethoven certainly knew

when he was onto a good tune.

Romanticism from Europe- East and WestSun 10 March 2013 - 7.30pm


Soloist TBA


Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture

Dvorak Cello Concerto

Franck Symphony in D minor

The concert gets off to a rousing start with

the energetic Roman Carnival Overture by

Berlioz. We will then be treated to Dvorák’s

great Cello Concerto – a work that had

Brahms commenting that, if he had realised

that a cello concerto could sound this good,

he would have written one. And finally, the

César Franck Symphony in d minor, full of deep

luscious tunes and very good to listen to - and

to play.


Balcony/Tier £15

Flat £12


The Heart of EnglandSat 18 May 2013 - 7.30pm


Soloist Jeanette Ager


Butterworth A Shropshire Lad

Elgar Sea Pictures

Elgar Symphony No.1

And now for fabulous English music! George

Butterworth’s rhapsody A Shropshire Lad takes

us straight into the English landscape, and then

we go down to the sea for Elgar’s magical Sea

Pictures. Jeanette Ager, who thrilled us with her

beautiful singing in Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius

last season, will join the BSO to sing the work.

All the poems are by different authors – one

being Alice, the composer’s wife – but are

unified by reflections of the isolating nature of

the sea. And having introduced Elgar into the

programme, we stick with him for another

‘First Symphony’, one of his great masterpieces.

J S Bach and FamilySat 11 May 2013 - 7.30pm

St Paul’s Church, Bedford

Soloist David Knight

Conductor Jan Kaznowski

Bach Magnificat (with Locrian Chamber

Choir)

CPE Bach Cello Concerto in A

However many times one hears great music by

Father Bach, it always excites and there is

always something new to hear. The principal

work is his great Magnificat, for which the

orchestra will be joined by the Locrian

Chamber Choir. First performed on Christmas

Day 1723, its mood is that of festive joy. We

look forward to C P E Bach’s Cello Concerto, to

be performed by our fine ‘in-house’ cellist

David Knight, and expect to hear contributions

from two other sons of the Father, W F Bach

and J C Bach.


Adults £10


Balcony/Tier £13

Flat £10


Sunday AfternoonsJune/July 2013

The Sinfonia enjoys its outings to churches in

Bedfordshire and plans to continue the

tradition. Jan Kaznowski’s enthusiasm for

Baroque music initiated these concerts, and

they have continued to attract participants and

audiences alike – something ‘different’ for

summer Sunday afternoons. Decisions about

venues and programmes for 2013 are in the

melting pot in these early days, but the word

‘Brandenburg’ is being mentioned…..

Tickets for these concerts are available on the

door, not through the Box Office, so watch out

for the adverts, turn up at the door, and

transform a pleasant summer into a really

special event.

To the Glory of GodSat 15 June 2013 - 7.30pm


Conductor Ian Smith

Vivaldi Gloria

Jenkins Requiem

Three centuries separate these two works, but

the sentiment is the same. Vivaldi was an

ordained priest from Venice, and he excelled in

sacred music. His Gloria has become by far the

most popular of his choral works, and the

Choral Society will relish the opportunity to

sing it. Members also enjoy singing Karl Jenkins’

music which has grown hugely in popularity

over the last decade. The Requiem was first

performed in 2005, and these two works will

complement each other beautifully in this

concert.


Balcony/Tier £15

Flat £12


Booking Information

Tickets are available from:

Central Box Office, Harpur Street, Bedford.

Prices £3 - £15 (concessions available)

Telephone 01234 269519

All major credit / debit cards accepted.

www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

24 hour reservations and booking

The societies gratefully acknowledge the

support of the organisations below.

Bedfordshire Orchestral Society is aregistered charity: No. 262813

Bedford Choral Society is aregistered charity: No. 291518

www.bedfordsymphony.com www.bedfordchoralsociety.org.uk

download 2012-13 brochure

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