southbank sinfonia | concert diary 2015

Principal partner

3All information in this Concert Diary was correct at the time of going to press, but Southbank Sinfonia reserves the right to vary programmes if necessary.

Meet Southbank Sinfonia: 33 outstanding young players poised to make a significant impact on the music profession. Every year we welcome an entirely new cohort of exceptional talents from all over the world and are fascinated to hear and see what they will achieve together.

Let them guide you through a vast array of repertoire and invigorating collaborations with artists such as Antonio Pappano, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Guy Barker as well as venerable organisations like the Royal Opera House and Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Whatever events you can attend, you are sure to experience the immense energy and freshness the players bring to every performance. They make a blazing case for why orchestras still matter today, investing new life in a noble tradition and reminding us all what can be accomplished when dedicated individuals put their hearts and minds together.

Join us on their remarkable journey, and be enlivened and inspired.

Simon OverMusic Director and Principal Conductor

AN ORCHESTRA LIKE NO OTHER

For the latest concert listings and to book tickets online, visit us at southbanksinfonia.co.uk

Kaya KuwabaraViolin

Cara LaskarisViolin

Karla NortonViolin

Helen ClintonOboe

Viviana Salcedo AgudeloOboe

Anaïs PontyViolin

Oliver PashleyClarinet

Sacha RattleClarinet

Duncan AndersonViola

Gareth HumphreysBassoon

Harry VenthamBassoon

Stephen CraigenHorn

Brendan ParraviciniHorn

Yena ChoiViolin

Tamara EliasViolin

Rachel GormanViolin

Alina HiltunenViolin

Colm O’ReillyViolin

Timothy RathboneViolin

Martha LloydFlute

Pedro Lopez CamposFlute

MEET THE PLAYERS

4

Sophie WilliamsCello

Mark GibbsViola

William NeriViola

Jessica TickleViola

Tatiana ChernyshovaCello

Sarah CampbellTrumpet

Patrick Tapio JohnsonCello

Darren MooreTrumpet

David Merseguer RoyoPercussion

Eugene Lee Associate Leader

Simon Over Music Director

Marc LabrancheCello

Giuseppe Ciraso CalìBass

Hannah TurnbullBass

5

Find out more about each of the players, including their stories, achievements and iPod playlists atsouthbanksinfonia.co.uk/meettheplayers

Hear from the musicians themselves, discovering through their eyes the music, projects and experiences that make up a year with us atsouthbanksinfonia.co.uk/blog

Enjoy behind-the-scenes access with the very latest photos, news and videos on Facebook and Twitter:

DISCOVER MORE

Southbank Sinfonia @SouthbankSinf

With our series of bite-sized concerts at St John’s Waterloo, across the road from Waterloo station, there’s a whole world of invigorating music just waiting to be discovered in 2015 – and all for free.

From a colossal Mahler symphony to daring chamber works, and Baroque treasures to symphonic jazz, the sheer versatility of what an orchestra can sound and look like is put on show. You’ll share the rush of emotions felt by our players as they plunge into works afresh, drawing from the youthful energy of 33 of the most talented graduate musicians from around the world.

This year we are thrilled to be collaborating with an array of internationally acclaimed guest artists and partners. Jazz virtuoso Guy Barker joins us with his 16-piece band in June for a London premiere performance (page 23), while John Wilson, whose annual BBC Prom is amongst the first to sell out each year, returns in October (page 28). In February we also perform conductor-less alongside the Academy of St Martin in the Fields - one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world(page 13).

If you’re new to classical music, this is the perfect way to dip a toe in the water. If you’re a seasoned concert-goer, we guarantee you’ll find something new alongside the players themselves.

What have you got to lose? Divert your commute home, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and delve into an hour of exhilarating music.

JANUARY 29FEBRUARY 5 | 12 | 19 | 26MARCH 5APRIL 16 | 30MAY 7 | 21 | 28JUNE 11 JULY 9OCTOBER 1

St John’sWaterloo

Waterloo Station

WATERLOO ROAD

YORK ROAD

BFI IMAX

FINDING ST JOHN’S WATERLOODATES AT A GLANCE

FREE RUSH HOUR CONCERTS

Be adventurous.

6.00pm on Thursdays throughout the year.

6

Central to the Southbank Sinfonia experience are partnerships with leading arts organisations. Collaboration with the Royal Opera House and Academy of St Martin in the Fields puts our players alongside the best in the business and gives them first-hand experience of what it takes to be a professional today. You too can experience these partnerships in action, hearing the orchestra play without a conductor (page 13) or gaining an insight into the nuances of playing in an orchestra for opera and ballet (page 19).

Away from the public eye, an annual recording project sees Southbank Sinfonia combine with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Playing side-by-side with one of Europe’s most versatile orchestras, our musicians discover what it’s like to record music as varied as Hollywood film scores, English ‘light’ music or epic staples of classical repertoire for broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Partnership with organisations like the National Theatre and Southbank Centre helps to break down walls between the audience and musicians by exploring new ways of presenting classical music. By taking their music beyond the usual strongholds of classical concerts, our players can connect with wider audiences and help pioneer the evolution of orchestral performance in the 21st century.

PERFORMING ALONGSIDE THE BEST

Ever

y Go

od B

oy D

eser

ves

Favo

ur li

ve o

n-st

age

at th

e Na

tiona

l The

atre

In th

e pi

t at t

he R

oyal

Ope

ra H

ouse

Coac

hing

from

the

mus

icia

ns o

f the

Acad

emy

of S

t Mar

tin in

the

Fiel

ds

Side

-by-

side

with

BBC

Con

cert

Orch

estra

7

Phot

o: S

im C

anet

ty-C

lark

e

Mendelssohn Trumpet OvertureMozart Ch’io mi scordi di te?Mozart Overture to the Magic FluteDonizetti O luce di quest’anima from Linda di ChamonixBeethoven Symphony No.5

Simon Over conductorIlona Domnich soprano

After a recent collaboration recording a CD of opera arias (due for release this year), Ilona Domnich returns to sing alongside Southbank Sinfonia. Simon Over directs from the piano in Mozart’s sublime Ch’io mi scordi di te?, fusing elements of opera and instrumental concerto in one work.

Tickets £20 (£10 students)Marlborough College Box Officemarlboroughconcertseries.org | 01672 892246

PAUL GOGGINSMEMORIAL CONCERT

RUSH HOUR #1:THE START

MARLBOROUGH COLLEGECONCERT SERIESFREE

FRIDAY 30 JANUARY | 7.30pmST JOHN’S SMITH SQUARE, LONDON

THURSDAY 29 JANUARY | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY | 3.00pmMARLBOROUGH COLLEGE, WILTSHIRE

Mozart Overture from The Marriage of FigaroBeethoven Piano Concerto No.4Mozart Requiem

Maxim Rysanov and Scott Price conductorsAshley Wass piano

Following performances in Notre-Dame cathedral, our 2014 players reunite to perform Mozart’s final masterpiece: the Requiem. We join with the extraordinary Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School choir, singers on the Oscar-winning Life of Pi soundtrack, for a concert in aid of the Cardinal Hume Centre.

Tickets £40, £25, £15St John’s Smith Square Box Officesjss.org.uk | 020 7222 1061

Ashl

ey W

ass

Ilona

Dom

nich

Phot

o: P

atric

k Al

len

IN MEMORY OF TREVOR SHEARS

Mendelssohn Trumpet OvertureBeethoven Symphony No.5

Simon Over conductor

The 2015 adventure begins with the most famous symphony of them all: Beethoven’s Fifth. This is a work that demands fresh imagination to reawaken its astounding originality and force. The Fifth was a musical adventure without precedent and, as such, provides the perfect starting point for a new orchestra embarking on a journey of discovery.

8

RUSH HOUR #2:PRODIGIES

ALDEBURGH

FREE

WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY | 12.15pmJUBILEE HALL, ALDEBURGH

THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Mozart Bassoon ConcertoMendelssohn Symphony No.4 ‘Italian’

Simon Over conductorGareth Humphreys bassoonTickets £10 | Aldeburgh Music Box Officealdeburgh.co.uk | 01728 687110

THE DEREK BUTLER CONCERTO SERIES

Mozart Bassoon ConcertoMendelssohn Symphony No.4 ‘Italian’

Simon Over conductorGareth Humphreys bassoon

Youthful minds brimming with inspiration penned the music in this concert. Mendelssohn was 21 when rural Italian landscapes inspired the joyful melodies of his Fourth Symphony, while an 18-year-old Mozart wrote the playful Bassoon Concerto. The latter features Southbank Sinfonia member Gareth Humphreys as soloist.

9

RUSH HOUR #3:MAHLER 4 FREE


Mahler Symphony No.4

David Corkhill conductorMaud Millar sopranoCardinal Vaughan Memorial School

For Mahler, a symphony “must be like the world – it must embrace everything”. His fourth starts innocently with a glance back to the era of Mozart and evolves to a climax of ‘heavenly life’ accompanied by the music of paradise.

Joining us to create a symphony orchestra of 64 players is the remarkable Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, whose young musicians are mentored by their Southbank Sinfonia counterparts.

By virtue of their youth, energy and excellence, the musicians of Southbank Sinfonia are an inspirational taskforce eager to pass on their expertise and passion to a new generation. Our players lead projects with schoolchildren and community members throughout the year, often providing first musical encounters which mark the start of a life-changing experience.

Whether in free concerts at St John’s Waterloo for local primary school students or side-by-side projects like our annual partnership with Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, our players perform with and for young people throughout the UK. Approachable and passionate, they act as much-needed role models who are able to give young people a vivid sense of what dedication to music can achieve.

Experiences like this help our players become confident musical leaders in their own right, ready and willing to keep inspiring younger counterparts for years to come. So far, over 30,000 young people have been inspired through initiatives like this.

Adults, too, can perform alongside the orchestra and glean top tips to improve their own musicality and technique directly from professionals. In June, musicians of all ages are invited to join us to perform Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony (page 25).

Meanwhile, Southbank Sinfonia Family Concerts at Cadogan Hall (page 12) are specially designed to provide an exhilarating environment in which to introduce the whole family - from five year olds to grandparents - to the joys of live orchestral music.

CHAMBER MUSIC ATTHE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE FREE

MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY | 1.00pmCRUSH ROOM, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

Spohr NonetJörg Widmann Octet

Brilliantly imaginative scoring in pieces written two centuries apart provides a perfect showcase for our players. Spohr’s classically elegant Nonet is juxtaposed with Widmann’s rollercoaster Octet that pushes the capabilities of each player to the limit.

Tickets are free but should be booked in advanceRoyal Opera House Box Officeroh.org.uk | 020 7304 4000

CHANGING LIVES

Phot

o: A

lice

Boag

ey

2014

Sch

ools

’ Sym

phon

y pr

ojec

t on

the

Roya

l Fes

tival

Hal

l sta

geFr

ee c

once

rt fo

r loc

al s

choo

ls a

tou

r hom

e St

John

’s W

ater

loo

10

SUPPORTED BY OUR OBBLIGATO FRIENDS

Piazzolla TangazoRomero Fuga con PajarilloBeethoven Symphony No.7

Natalia Luis-Bassa conductor

Charismatic Venezuelan Natalia Luis-Bassa celebrates the spirit of dance from around the world. Piazzolla’s Argentinian Tangazo builds to an edgy tango of percussive and melodic flair while Romero fuses a lively pajarillo – a Venezuelan dance – with a more formal fugue. From Europe, Beethoven’s Seventh was described by Wagner as “the apotheosis of the dance”, driven by relentless rhythms and boundless energy.

11

IMAGINE FESTIVAL:PASSENGER SEATS

RUSH HOUR #4:DANCING RHYTHMS

FREE

FREE

WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY | 2.30pm & 3.30pmCLORE BALLROOM, ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL


Natalia Luis-Bassa conductor

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be inside an orchestra? As part of Southbank Centre’s Imagine Festival for children, youngsters are invited to take ‘passenger seats’ among our players. Experience the buzz of Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 and Mendelssohn’s whirlwind ‘Italian’ in an immersive musical thrill ride.

Presented with a sign interpreter and visual aids in partnership with Music and the Deaf.

SOUTHBANK SINFONIAFAMILY CONCERTSATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY | 11.00amCADOGAN HALL, LONDON

Picture 33 professional musicians, instruments in hand and dressed to the nines. But who’s behind the black bow tie? What is it that makes a musician tick?

In the first Family Concert of 2015, meet the personalities of the orchestra and learn about the adventures they’ve had on their way to performing breathtaking symphonic music for you.

Ideal for children aged 5 - 11

Including music from:Beethoven Symphony No.7Romero Fuga con PajarilloMendelssohn Symphony No.4 ‘Italian’

Natalia Luis-Bassa conductorTickets £5 children, £10 adults, £25 family of fourCadogan Hall Box Officecadoganhall.com | 020 7730 4500

What better way to kickstart your family’s weekend than with our new-look Family Concerts, jam-packed with fuel for the imagination?

Featuring a full orchestra, they mix live musical performance with specially created videos, sounds and theatrical lighting that immerse children and adults alike in an inspiring orchestral world.

Over three concerts through the year, join us on an adventure led by the players themselves and find out just what’s so exciting about classical music. After each concert, you’ll also have the chance to meet our friendly musicians and try out some of their instruments in the Cadogan Hall foyer.

Can’t wait to start exploring? Find out more about the music, composers and players before the concert with our online tasters by visitingsouthbanksinfonia.co.uk/musical-explorers

2015 Family Concerts: Saturday 21 FebruarySaturday 6 June (page 22)Saturday 17 October (page 28)

FAMILY CONCERTS

12

When an orchestra performs without a conductor it offers musicians artistic thrills and freedom, but at far greater risk. How do you shape the sounds, tempos, and emotions of dozens of performers when there is no maestro on the podium?

To help cultivate the skills needed to pull off such a feat, Southbank Sinfonia works in partnership with the Principals of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. World acclaimed, the Academy has an esteemed history of often performing without a conductor since their founding in 1958.

Within the orchestra, every sense is elevated as dozens of musicians listen and watch each other more intensely than ever before. Every flick of the head, raising of an eyebrow or split-second of eye contact becomes a crucial conduit of communication, but the reward of such concentration is exceptional orchestral cohesion and the potential for truly unforgettable performances.

Later in the year, Southbank Sinfonia strings will also lead their own unconducted Rush Hour concert on Thursday 28 May (page 22).

NO CONDUCTOR?

RUSH HOUR #5:UNCONDUCTED FREE


Prokofiev Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’Haydn Symphony No.99

with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Growing up, the enfant terrible Prokofiev’s music was thought abrasively radical in its pioneering of a new orchestral sound. Yet his First Symphony was modelled on traditional Classicism, inspired by the genius of Haydn but updating it with 120 year’s worth of new ideas. Compare the evolution yourself with Haydn’s lively Symphony No.99, written for a London concert series in 1794.

RUSH HOUR #6:BEETHOVEN 6 FREE

THURSDAY 5 MARCH | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Mozart Overture to The Magic FluteVerdi Act 3 Prelude from ‘I Lombardi’Beethoven Symphony No.6 ‘Pastoral’

Paul Wynne-Griffiths conductorTamara Elias violin

Royal Opera House conductor Paul Wynne-Griffiths guides the orchestra through two operatic works, including lyrical solo violin from Verdi. Beethoven’s Sixth, meanwhile, is often seen as a picture postcard of life in the countryside. At first glance it seems innocently light-hearted, but is there more hiding beneath the surface?

13

BURY COURT OPERA:THE RAKE’S PROGRESSFRIDAY 6 MARCH | 6.00pmSUNDAY 8 MARCH | 5.30pmWEDNESDAY 11 MARCH | 7.45pmSATURDAY 14 MARCH | 5.30pmBURY COURT BARN, SURREY

Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress


Past Southbank Sinfonia members return to play for long-standing partner Bury Court Opera. The Rake’s Progress tells a Faustian tale of a man who, tired of his simple country life, strikes a deal with the devil and abandons his sweetheart to embark on a life of reckless pleasure.

Tickets £65 - £90Bury Court Opera Box Officeburycourtopera.org | 01420 22109

You can also dine in style at Bury Court Opera after selected performances. Monteverdi Beatus vir

Purcell Come Ye Sons of ArtNicholas O’Neill O God of earth and altar

Simon Over conductorParliament ChoirKiandra Howarth sopranoJames Laing and Tom Verney countertenorGeorge Humphreys baritoneTickets £10, £20, £30St John’s Smith Square Box Officesjss.org.uk | 020 7222 1061

PARLIAMENT CHOIR

LONDON CONCERT CHOIR:ELIJAHTUESDAY 10 MARCH | 7.30pmBARBICAN, LONDON

WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH | 7.30pmST JOHN’S SMITH SQUARE, LONDON

Mendelssohn Elijah

Mark Forkgen conductorLondon Concert ChoirErica Eloff sopranoJeanette Ager mezzo-sopranoNicholas Hurndall-Smith tenorToby Stafford-Allen bassTickets £16 - £30Barbican Box Officebarbican.org.uk | 020 7638 8891

14

VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY:DVORAK & RACHMANINOV

CHAMBER MUSIC ATSOUTHBANK CENTRE

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH | 7.30pmCADOGAN HALL, LONDON

FRIDAY 20 MARCH | 1.00pmFRONT ROOM, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL

Rachmaninov VocaliseRachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme by PaganiniDvorák Symphony No.9 ‘From the New World’

Vladimir Ashkenazy conductorAlessio Bax piano

Patron and acclaimed artist Vladimir Ashkenazy brings decades of experience working with the world’s greatest orchestras to Southbank Sinfonia.

Rachmaninov’s iconic Rhapsody takes Paganini’s final Caprice for solo violin then transforms, embellishes and amplifies its original melody into one of the all-time great works for piano and orchestra. We warmly welcome back Alessio Bax to join us as soloist.

Dvorák’s Ninth Symphony, meanwhile, is a masterpiece spawned from the thriving metropolis of New York at the close of the 19th century. With new American musical influences ripe in the air, Dvorák blended his love and longing for his native Bohemia with the exhilarating thrill of the New World.

Tickets £10 - £35Cadogan Hall Box Officecadoganhall.com020 7730 4500

Britten Phantasy Quartet for oboe and stringsKorngold String Sextet in D major

Britten and Korngold were teenagers when they wrote these works, both of which have a character and confidence far beyond their years. The Phantasy Quartet added a new European edge to the traditional charm of English pastoral music, while the dramatic Sextet blends Korngold’s distinctive voice – that which would later define Hollywood – with sweet Brahms-like melodies and a touch of Viennese sparkle.

Ales

sio

Bax

Phot

o: L

isa

Mar

ie M

azzu

cco

Phot

o: K

eith

Sau

nder

s

FREE

15

v

v

v

LONDON HANDEL FESTIVALRUSH HOUR #7:BAROQUE FREE

FRIDAY 17 APRIL | 7.00pmST GEORGE’S, HANOVER SQUARE

THURSDAY 16 APRIL | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Handel Overture ‘Giustino’Rebel Les Caractères de la DanceTelemann Concerto in G major for two flutes and bassoonJS Bach Orchestral Suite No.3Pergolesi Missa Romana

Adrian Butterfield directorMichael Berman director, Vox MusicaSoraya Mafi and Bethan Seymour sopranoTom Verney countertenorJames Way tenorVox Musica

Graceful yet extrovert, Pergolesi’s mass combines expressive solo and choral singing with atmospheric writing for double string orchestra. This is a rare chance to hear a work with moments of vivid colour and contrasting poignancy, performed with authentic Baroque bows and strings at the church Handel himself attended.

Tickets £14 | London Handel Festival Box Officelondon-handel-festival.com | 01460 54660


Handel Overture ‘Giustino’Rebel Les Caractères de la DanceTelemann Concerto in G major for two flutes and bassoonJS Bach Orchestral Suite No.3

Adrian Butterfield director

Forget everything you know about an orchestra of today and join us on a journey back in time. With authentic gut strings and Baroque bows, the instruments of the orchestra demand a fresh technique for

performers and reward the listener with a bold sound rich with complex overtones. And of the music? These are pieces by the radical artists of their time, breaking rules of composition that had stood for centuries.

300 years later, Baroque music presents a whole new side of the orchestra to discoverMARTHA LLOYDFlute

“ ”16

After the war, many artists hoped to salvage the nation’s lost heritage - as in the Elizabethan variations by Walton and others. But as the dream of a better Britain failed to emerge, stark new voices began to speak out, including the young Pinter and Birtwistle.

Programme includes:Poems by John Betjeman and Harold PinterWalton / Britten / Tippett / Oldham Variations on an Elizabethan ThemePeter Maxwell Davies Trumpet SonataHarrison Birtwistle Refrains and Choruses

What impact does the world have on music? What impact does music have on the world? This Spring, we play a major part in Changing Britain, Southbank Centre’s landmark festival interrogating 70 years of British society, culture and politics. Three weekends will explore distinct periods since World War Two, brought to life through talks, visual art and music. Each weekend, Southbank Sinfonia presents an hour-long salon of words and music from each era, charting how music has captured the changing fortunes of the nation.

Jonathan Berman conductorTickets Passes covering individual days, festival periods or all events can be purchased from Southbank Centresouthbankcentre.co.uk | 020 7960 4200

Fresh challenges facing the arts awoke a generation of fearless new voices. Turnage’s Twice Through The Heart is an iconic work of the era, a powerful parable for the disorder that comes from inequality, matched by furious testimonies from Berkoff and Pinter.

Programme includes:Mark-Anthony Turnage Twice Through The HeartProse and poetry byHarold Pinter and Steven Berkoff

New Labour brought to Britain the age of ‘spin’ and new waves of satire. Nothing could occur in the political arena that was not lampooned and caricatured. This is felt in Joanna Lee’s exhilarating Effigies in which political leaders like George W Bush are brought to trial. Philip Cashian’s Caprichos takes its title from a set of Goya prints that, like his music, reflect the follies of the day.

Programme includes:Joanna Lee Every Inch of Many EffigiesPhilip Cashian Caprichos

CHANGING BRITAIN

SUNDAY 19 APRIL | 5.00pmPURCELL ROOM, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL

SUNDAY 26 APRIL | 5.00pmPURCELL ROOM, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL

SATURDAY 2 MAY| 5.00pmFRONT ROOM, QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL

REBUILDING BRITAIN: 1945 - 1979

TWICE THROUGH THE HEART: 1979 - 1997

HAVE I GOT MUSIC FOR YOU: 1997 - 2015

17

RUSH HOUR #8:CHAMBER MUSIC

RUSH HOUR #9:TRANSATLANTIC FREE

FREE

THURSDAY 30 APRIL | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

THURSDAY 7 MAY | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Martinu QuartetR Strauss Metamorphosen for string septet

In chamber music, the sound, personality and musicianship of every player is exposed for all to enjoy. Starting with exuberant percussive beats, Martinu’s Quartet brings together clarinet, horn, cello and snare drum. Alongside this, the beautiful Metamorphosen is condensed from its symphonic form to a sinuous river of emotion that demands astounding accuracy and honesty from its performers.

o


Beethoven Symphony No.1R Strauss Duet ConcertinoMichael Daugherty Sunset Strip

Rebecca Miller conductorLloyd Coleman clarinet | Harry Ventham bassoon

The electrifying Californian Rebecca Miller returns with a programme that spans from Beethoven’s first symphonic steps to the extravagances of night-time Los Angeles in Sunset Strip. In collaboration with Music and the Deaf, the outstanding hearing-impaired musician Lloyd Coleman also joins Southbank Sinfonia’s Harry Ventham for Strauss’ Duet Concertino.

Please note: This concert begins with a brief artist interview with Lloyd, Harry and Rebecca, and is likely to finish at 7.45pm.

18

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE:SIDE-BY-SIDESUNDAY 10 MAY | 5.30pmLINBURY THEATRE, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

Paul Wynne-Griffiths and Barry Wordsworth conductorsJette Parker Young Artists and Royal Ballet Young Artists

Performing alongside their counterparts from the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, our players learn what it takes to play in the pit. With insights from the conductors and the players themselves, you too can unearth the tricks of the trade as the spotlight is shone on one of the crucial ingredients of world-class operaand ballet.

Tickets Royal Opera House Box Officeroh.org.uk | 020 7304 4000

Through our partnership with the Royal Opera House, Southbank Sinfonia players accrue a wealth of practical experience on-site at Covent Garden. By working with Royal Opera House conductors and musicians with specialist experience in opera and ballet, our players discover how to combine the movement of dancers or the emotions of a singer’s performance with the music being played.

In the Autumn, Southbank Sinfonia takes ownership of the pit for a fully staged production with the exceptional Jette Parker Young Artists. This annual collaboration between rising stars at the beginning of their careers produces acclaimed results in the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre (page 28).

Alongside an orchestral performance with Jette Parker young conductors in the Paul Hamlyn Hall (page 21) and a chamber performance in the Crush Room (page 10), mock auditions with Royal Opera musicians also provide invaluable feedback to our young players which, in turn, help them take the next step in their careers.

IN PARTNERSHIP:WORLD CLASS OPERA AND BALLET

Crus

h Ro

om p

erfo

rman

ce

Ross

ini L

a Sc

ala

di S

eta

(201

4)

Phot

o: S

im C

anet

ty-C

lark

e

Phot

o: R

OH/M

ark

Doue

t

19

ANTONIO PAPPANOTHURSDAY 14 MAY ITALIAN EMBASSY, LONDON

Programme includes:Wagner Siegfried Idyll

Sir Antonio Pappano conductor

Continuing our evergreen association with the Royal Opera House, we are thrilled to collaborate with its world-famous Music Director Sir Antonio Pappano for the very first time. He will conduct ensembles from this year’s orchestra in a uniquely intimate concert at the Italian Embassy, kindly hosted by the British Italian Society to raise funds for Southbank Sinfonia. The performance is followed by an exclusive dinner with Maestro Pappano and the players.

Tickets are available to Southbank Sinfonia’s Benefactors, Maestro Supporters and Obbligato Friends.To find out more, contact Ellie Greenhalgh on020 7921 0370 or [email protected]. Find out more about becoming a supporter on page 30.

Sir A

nton

io P

appa

no

Phot

o: E

MI /

She

ila R

ock

20

Beethoven Symphony No.2Beethoven Symphony No.8

Jonathan Santagada andMichele Gamba conductors

A double header of symphonies abundant with energetic high spirits, conducted by the Royal Opera House Jette Parker young conductors.

Originality and youthful exuberance characterise Beethoven’s Second, a piece right on the cusp of symphonic revolution. Then, written a decade later, the hair-raising Eighth Symphony bounds headlong into a ballistic finale that unleashes the full-force of the orchestra.

Tickets are free but should be booked in advanceRoyal Opera House Box Officeroh.org.uk | 020 7304 4000

LUNCHTIME AT THEROYAL OPERA HOUSEMONDAY 18 MAY | 1.00pmPAUL HAMLYN HALL, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

FREE

The energy and life in these two Beethoven symphonies make it impossible to play them without a smile on my faceMARK GIBBSViola

“”

RUSH HOUR #10:STRINGS ONLYTHURSDAY 21 MAY | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Grieg Holberg SuiteBartók Divertimento

Eugene Lee Associate Leader

Composers often take inspiration from the past, trawling earlier musical forms and fusing them with contemporary insights. As the strings demonstrate the incredible range that just one section of an orchestra can provide, Grieg’s short suite bookends moments of refined Classical manners with boisterous energy.

Bartók looks back even further, picking up the tradition of the Baroque Concerto Grosso. Passages jump between solo instruments and full ensemble, teasing out one last musical distraction as Europe slid ever closer to the annihilation of World War Two.

FREE

21

SOUTHBANK SINFONIAFAMILY CONCERTSATURDAY 6 JUNE | 11.00amCADOGAN HALL, LONDON

Our second Family Concert of the year shines the spotlight on the music, taking you right inside one of the greatest symphonies ever written. Led by the orchestra, discover the ingredients that go into a masterpiece like Beethoven’s Fifth, find out what it’s like to perform, and experience the whole symphony like never before.


Beethoven Symphony No.5

Simon Over conductorTickets £5 children, £10 adults, £25 family of fourCadogan Hall Box Officecadoganhall.com | 020 7730 4500

ROYAL BALLET:CHANCE TO DANCESATURDAY 30 MAY | 5.00pmSUNDAY 31 MAY | 2.00pm & 5.00pmLINBURY THEATRE, ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

David McKellan and Jessica Cottis conductors

Southbank Sinfonia combines with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House to accompany dance works for young people, written specially for the occasion by composers including Charlotte Bray.

Tickets Royal Opera House Box Officeroh.org.uk | 020 7304 4000

22

RUSH HOUR #11: SYMPHONIC BRAHMSTHURSDAY 28 MAY | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Programme includes:Brahms Symphony No.2


With his Second Symphony, Brahms opened the creative flood gates. It is a piece of pure joy, with lyrical melodies building towards an athletically dazzling finale full of triumphant brass and orchestral festivity.

To bring the full symphonic form of one of Brahms’ greatest works to life, we welcome back a host of former Southbank Sinfonia players.

FREE

Guy Barker Miles Symphonic: Kind of Blue

Guy Barker leaderand The Guy Barker Jazz Orchestra

Renowned jazz trumpeter Guy Barker reframes the sound and shape of the orchestra for the London premiere of his orchestration of Miles Davis’ iconic album Kind of Blue. As Southbank Sinfonia merges with 16 of Europe’s leading big-band players, expect an hour of unforgettable symphonic jazz led by an artist who has worked with Paloma Faith, Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Sting, Alison Balsom, Anthony Minghella and countless others across a vast array of genres.

As an enticing alternative to this evening’s Rush Hour, join us at 8.00pm for a more intimate performance of Miles Symphonic in which we conjure a jazz club vibe with VIP table seating and an after-show drinks party with Guy Barker and his band.

Tickets £20 | £120 VIP table for four with two complimentary bottles of wine (limited availability)Priority booking for supportersPublic booking from 1 MayTo book, contact Ellie Greenhalgh on020 7921 0370 or [email protected],or find out more about becoming a supporter on page 30.

RUSH HOUR #12:KIND OF BLUETHURSDAY 11 JUNE | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

23

Guy BarkerPhoto: Charlie Chan

FREEOrchestral jazz presents a fresh challenge, opening our minds to a new musical languageDAVID MERSEGUER ROYOPercussion

“”

WATERLOO FESTIVAL:BFI FILM MUSIC COMPETITION

WATERLOO FESTIVAL:GALA CONCERT

MONDAY 15 JUNE | 4.30pmBFI SOUTHBANK

THURSDAY 18 JUNE | 7.30pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Film composers shape the soundtrack to our lives today as much as pop-stars. At the nerve-centre of UK cinema, a chamber group of Southbank Sinfonia musicians will bring new works by aspiring composers to life as they perform to a screening of a specially commissioned short film.

Tickets are free but should be booked in advance when public booking opens in Maystjohnswaterloo.org | 020 7633 9819

Programme includes:Beethoven Fidelio OvertureFS Kelly Elegy for Strings ‘In Memoriam Rupert Brooke’Barber Adagio for StringsDenis Browne Three Songs for Orchestra and tenorDenis Browne The Comic Spirit

Simon Over and Graham Ross conductorsChoir of Clare College, CambridgeCentral School of Dance

In music, words and dance, we commemorate not only the bi-centenary of the Battle of Waterloo but also the centenary of the Gallipoli landings where several of Britain’s most promising young composers – like the celebrated young poet Rupert Brooke – lost their lives. With premiere performances of some of their music, we glimpse what their musical legacy could have been, had the First World War not taken their lives. We are delighted to welcome young artists from Central School of Dance and Clare College Choir for this special occasion.

Tickets £12, £8 concessions, £25 family of fourPublic booking opens in Maystjohnswaterloo.org | 020 7633 9819

24

SEVEN SEEDSTUESDAY 23 JUNE | 6.30pmROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRI-BOROUGH MUSIC HUB

John Barber & Hazel Gould Seven Seeds

Nicholas Collon conductorYvonne Howard mezzo-sopranoMarcus Farnsworth baritone

Alongside Aurora Orchestra, Albert’s Band and the Bach Choir

Seven Seeds is a major creative arts project designed as a catalyst for the musical development of thousands of students from west London’s Tri-borough schools. This newly commissioned work will see over 1,200 young people perform alongside an orchestra featuring musicians from Southbank Sinfonia and Aurora Orchestra among others.

Tickets £10, £5 concessionsRoyal Albert Hall Box Officeroyalalberthall.com | 0845 401 5045

WATERLOO FESTIVAL: COME AND PLAY FREE

SATURDAY 20 JUNE ST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Beethoven Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’

David Corkhill conductor

Do you dream of playing with a professional orchestra? Here’s your chance as musicians of all ages are invited to join us and perform Beethoven’s groundbreaking Third Symphony, a piece that heroically blasted wide-open every conception of what a symphony could be.

210 years later, you can perform alongside our energetic players and recreate the shockwaves of that first performance.

Recommended standard: Grade 5 and above

Further information and booking details will be available at southbanksinfonia.co.uk in the Spring.

25

PETER HULSENORCHESTRAL SONG AWARDTUESDAY 30 JUNE | 7.30pmST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS, LONDON

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HELP MUSICIANS UK

Programme includes songs from:Canteloube Songs of the AuvergneBerlioz Les nuits d’étéFinzi Let us garlands bringRodney Bennett Songs before sleep

Simon Over conductorSoraya Mafi sopranoBozidar Smiljanic baritone

The greatest works in the orchestral song book blend the lyricism of the human voice with a rich tapestry of instrumental colour. Every two years, outstanding young singers compete for the Peter Hulsen Orchestral Song Award and the opportunity to perform alongside resplendent orchestral forces. This year’s winners, Soraya Mafi and Bozidar Smiljanic, sing luscious songs in the vaulted splendour of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Tickets £9 - £25 | Public booking opens in MarchSt Martin-in-the-Fields Box Office | smitf.org | 020 7766 1100

SINGER / SMITF PHOTOS?

Bozid

ar S

milj

anic

St M

artin

-in-th

e-Fi

elds

Sora

ya M

afi

Phot

o: R

apha

elle

Pho

togr

aphy

26

ANGHIARI FESTIVAL

WALTON’S ISCHIA

RUSH HOUR #13:TUSCAN PREVIEW FREE

SATURDAY 18 - FRIDAY 24 JULY ANGHIARI, TUSCANY

THURSDAY 16 JULY | 9.00pmGIARDINI LA MORTELLA, ISCHIA

THURSDAY 9 JULY | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

Music abounds from every piazza, church and cloister of this Tuscan hill-town during our annual residency at the Anghiari Festival. A highlight of the year for many supporters and friends, an incredible variety of orchestral, choral and chamber music is complemented by stunning views, divine food and informal charm away from the tourist trail.

Each day you’ll be offered a new selection of classical music to enjoy up close, while we are thrilled to be joined by acclaimed guest artists including the Allegri Quartet.

For further information, visit southbanksinfonia.co.uk or contact Ellie Greenhalgh on 020 7921 0370 [email protected] Crown Imperial

R Strauss Horn Concerto No.1Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 ‘Italian’

Simon Over conductorStephen Craigen horn

William Walton’s idyllic Mediterranean home provides a stunning venue for this concert, with a breathtaking backdrop of the bay of Naples. Southbank Sinfonia’s Stephen Craigen performs Strauss’ youthful first Horn Concerto, written when the composer was just 18, while a dose of British patriotism comes from Walton’s majesticCrown Imperial.


In the last Rush Hour before the summer holiday, the sunshine of Italy is brought to London for one evening only as we preview a selection of the music to be performed during the orchestra’s forthcoming visit to Italy.

27

SOUTHBANK SINFONIAFAMILY CONCERTSATURDAY 17 OCTOBER | 11.00amCADOGAN HALL, LONDON

In our final Family Concert of the year, experience the thrill of one of Prokofiev’s greatest works with our players acting as your expert guides.


Programme includes:Prokofiev Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’Tickets £5 children, £10 adults, £25 family of fourCadogan Hall Box Officecadoganhall.com | 020 7730 4500

RUSH HOUR #14:AMERICA

GRAND FINALE

FREE

THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER | 6.00pmST JOHN’S WATERLOO

THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER ST JOHN’S WATERLOO

John Wilson conductor

One of the UK’s leading and most popular conductors, fresh from six years of sold-out BBC Proms performances, returns with anall-American programme set to include Barber, Copland and more.


As our 2015 players complete their Southbank Sinfonia journey, join us to celebrate their achievements this year in a special gala concert. The programme will be specially chosen by Simon and the players themselves.

Further information will be announced in MayPriority booking for supportersTo book, contact Ellie Greenhalgh on020 7921 0370 or [email protected]

STILL TO COME: AUTUMN 2015 DATES TO NOTE

Autumn holds many highlights of the Southbank Sinfonia year and promises to bring the 2015 programme to a rousing conclusion. Alongside the dates to note on this page, we look forward to operatic projects which will see the orchestra perform in two fully staged productions.

In September, our long-standing collaboration with British Youth Opera continues as our players join forces with their young operatic counterparts. October then sees Southbank Sinfonia in the pit at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre, accompanying the exceptional Jette Parker Young Artists and once again proving that the future of opera is bright.

Further details will be revealed throughout the year at southbanksinfonia.co.uk

28

John

Wils

on

Phot

o: S

im C

anet

ty-C

lark

e

WATCHING THE FUTURE, NOWSo

phie

Appl

eton

Violi

n, Ro

yal N

orth

ern

Sinf

onia

Anna

Ban

aszk

iewicz

Violi

n, BB

C Ph

ilhar

mon

ic Or

ches

tra

Alice

Bat

ty Vio

la, B

BC S

cotti

sh S

ymph

ony O

rches

tra

Sara

h Be

nnin

gton

Flut

e, Sc

ottis

h Op

era

Rich

ard

Blak

e Tru

mpe

t, City

of B

irming

ham

Sym

phon

y Orch

estra

Ellen

Blyt

he V

iola,

Philh

arm

onia

Orch

estra

Lesli

e Bo

ulin

Rau

let C

o-Pr

incipa

l Viol

in, M

anch

este

r Cam

erat

a

James

Bur

ke P

rincip

al Cl

arine

t, BBC

Sym

phon

y Orch

estra

& Ac

adem

y of S

t Mar

tin in

the F

ields

Sam B

urst

in Vi

ola, P

hilha

rmon

ia Or

ches

tra

Sara

h Ch

apman

Viol

a, BB

C Na

tiona

l Orch

estra

of W

ales

Abbe

y Edl

in H

orn,

Melbou

rne S

ymph

ony O

rches

tra

Amy F

awce

tt Vio

la, C

ity o

f Birm

ingha

m S

ymph

ony O

rches

tra

Mat

thew

Feat

hers

tone

Prin

cipal

Flute

, BBC

NOW

Nico

la G

leed V

iolin,

Roy

al Liv

erpo

ol Ph

ilhar

mon

ic Or

ches

tra

Ben

Griff

iths P

rincip

al Ba

ss, A

uror

a Or

ches

tra

David

Lale

Cello

, Lon

don

Philh

arm

onic

Orch

estra

Tom Le

ssels

Clar

inet, A

cade

my o

f St M

artin

in th

e Fiel

ds

Julia

Louc

ks V

iolin,

Wels

h Na

tiona

l Ope

ra

Pete

r Mal

linso

n Viol

a, BB

C Sy

mph

ony O

rches

tra

Shela

gh M

cKai

l Viol

a, Sc

ottis

h Op

era

Niam

h M

olloy

Cell

o, Ro

yal P

hilha

rmon

ic Or

ches

tra

Olga

Mus

zyns

ka Vi

olin,

Roya

l Live

rpoo

l Phil

harm

onic

Orch

estra

Rust

om P

omer

oy Vi

olin,

BBC

Conc

ert O

rches

tra

Alice

Rick

ards

Violi

n, BB

C Sc

ottis

h Sy

mph

ony O

rches

tra

Helen

a Ro

ques

Violi

n, Ph

ilhar

mon

ia Or

ches

tra

Emma

Selby

Bas

soon

, Bou

rnem

outh

Sym

phon

y Orch

estra

Laur

a Si

nner

ton V

iola,

BBC

Natio

nal O

rches

tra o

f Wale

s

Andr

ew S

kidmor

e Ce

llo, O

rches

tra o

f the

Age o

f Enli

ghte

nmen

t

Hann

ah S

mith V

iolin,

Hall

é

Clai

re S

terli

ng V

iolin,

Eng

lish

Natio

nal O

pera

Mat

thew

Wat

son V

iolin,

BBC

Phil

harm

onic

Orch

estra

Anth

ony W

illia

ms Bas

s, Ro

yal L

iverp

ool P

hilha

rmon

ic Or

ches

tra

Anne

Wils

on Vi

ola, O

pera

Nor

th

Adria

n Wils

on O

boe,

Roya

l Sco

ttish

Nat

ional

Orch

estra

This year’s orchestra joins a group of 385 musicians for whom the Southbank Sinfonia experience has provided a springboard to exciting futures. Since 2002, the opportunities offered to hundreds of talented graduates have provided much needed fuel to help propel them into the profession.

Today, former members occupy prominent seats in leading orchestras throughout the world. From the Philharmonia to the Melbourne Symphony, each proudly acknowledges the positive impact that Southbank Sinfonia has made upon their progress.

The true impact of Southbank Sinfonia is incalculable: alongside work with professional orchestras and opera companies, former members become distinguished chamber musicians and inspirational leaders in music education.

Many also pursue exciting musical ventures of their own, using the experience and opportunities provided during their time with us to lift their careers to even greater heights. They also continue to play a valued role in the life of Southbank Sinfonia, frequently returning to play as deputies and extras,

sharing insights with their successors and enabling us to perform invigorating large-scale repertoire.

Listed below are just some achievements of our alumni, not to mention the dozens who regularly perform with their own chamber groups, as busy freelance musicians, or who are currently trialling with the top orchestras.

29

30

From January to October, our players embark on a journey like no other orchestra. You can observe it from the sidelines, or you can join them and be a part of the experience yourself. From auditions onwards, Southbank Sinfonia supporters enjoy a uniquely close association with the orchestra, following their progress every step of the way, watching them grow in talent and confidence, discovering – alongside the players themselves – how an orchestra really works, and seeing first-hand the value of their investment to young people who really need it. For many, it’s this inclusive atmosphere that makes supporting the orchestra so worthwhile.

As a registered charity, each and every donation helps us to continue our programme of activity and propel us to even greater heights. We truly value your friendship and support, and whatever your personal interest, there are many ways we can create a unique and rewarding association for you with the orchestra.

BECOME A FRIENDJoin our family of supporters with a monthly donation of £10 (Continuo), £20 (Ripieno) or £35 (Obbligato) and enjoy exciting opportunities to get closer to the music. Experience a uniquely close rapport with the orchestra, from attending a private rehearsal to taking a seat inside the orchestra, whilst making a real difference to their journey.

JOIN OUR MAESTRO SUPPORTERSRelish a truly individual association with the orchestra by becoming a Maestro Supporter. With a minimum annual donation of £1,001, Maestro Supporters share our Music Director Simon Over’s passion for helping exceptional young musicians to fulfil their potential. In return, they receive personal updates from Simon on the orchestra’s progress, opportunities to get to know the musicians and recognition for their support.

ADOPT A PLAYERBy ‘adopting’ a player, you don’t have to take them home but can make a real difference to their prospects, directly supporting the cost of their participation in the programme. In turn, you can follow their individual journey into the profession, get to know them and take personal pride in their accomplishments along the way as they keep you personally updated on their progress. Your gesture is equally valued by Southbank Sinfonia and you will not only enjoy all the benefits offered to our other supporters, but be individually recognised as one of our closest Benefactors.

SUPPORT US

31

SUPPORT OUR RUSH HOURSWeek after week, our entirely free Rush Hour Concert Series draws an enthusiastic and diverse audience. You might like to sponsor one of our Rush Hours for a special occasion, as a group of friends, or simply because you believe in the worth of classical music for all. If your company offers a match-funding scheme, you could make our donation buckets go even further by helping us fundraise on the night. Or perhaps your society might enjoy an evening of music together with a complimentary glass of wine and further opportunities for hospitality.

GET YOUR ORGANISATION INVOLVEDIf you are part of a company that shares our commitment to helping others fulfil their potential and operates beyond the traditional boundaries associated with your profession, we can create a rewarding partnership bringing Southbank Sinfonia’s dedication, team spirit and imagination to your workplace. If you are involved in a trust or foundation that believes in the limitless potential of young people, you could make an invaluable contribution to any aspect of our work, helping us to innovate and inspire more people with music.

CHALLENGE YOURSELFEach year our players fearlessly embrace a host of creative challenges. Challenge yourself to do the same and help us raise vital funds for Southbank Sinfonia. You might like to take on a marathon, represent us at RideLondon, tackle a Grade One challenge or host a fundraising event of your own - there are many ways to get involved and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCEThe impact that Southbank Sinfonia has on the lives of its young musicians can last a lifetime. When you come to write or revisit your Will, perhaps you might consider if there is a place for Southbank Sinfonia amongst your plans. Any gesture, no matter what size, can make a huge difference and collectively we can ensure that Southbank Sinfonia continues to help young musicians for generations to come.

To find out more, visitsouthbanksinfonia.co.uk

Or contact Charlotte Castle, ourDeputy Development Director on020 7921 0377 [email protected]

Design Matt Belcher Feature Photography Belinda Lawley and Matt Belchershowing members of the 2014 and 2015 orchestras

Southbank Sinfonia is a registered charity No.1092461

southbanksinfonia.co.uk

Southbank Sinfonia

@SouthbankSinf

a dashing ensemble who play with exhilarating fizz, exactness and staminaThe Times

“ ”

southbank sinfonia | concert diary 2015

Documents