Tag Archives: Concerts

Concerts

Kim d’Espiney World Premiere

Many of you will remember that last year Mosman Symphony Orchestra gave the world premiere performance of Danza Arabica by Kim d’Espiney, who also plays oboe in the orchestra. That piece was characterised by sorrowful Moorish style melodies contrasting with vibrant energetic dance rhythms and was received with great enthusiasm by both orchestra and audience.

On Sunday June 4 the Bourbaki Ensemble, conducted by David Angel will premiere a new piece by Kim. Con Fuoco, composed for strings, brass and percussion, will be the finale of a concert that also features Rachel Tolmie as cor anglais soloist in Richard Percival’s Sicilienne and Alan Ridout’s Concertino as well as works by Sibelius, Bartok and Vaughan Williams.

The concert will be at 2.45 at St Stephen’s, Newtown.  I’m sure Kim would appreciate some friendly faces in the audience. Could there  be a better way of spending  a sparkling Sunday afternoon than in the company of exciting new music, with the coffee shops of Newtown beckoning for afters?

reviews

The Mystery of the Missing Guest Book

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What a wonderful concert series we’ve just had! From the stirring brass in Wagner’s Tannhäuser to the golden honeyed sound of trumpet virtuoso, John Foster, finishing with magnificent playing from the whole orchestra in Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. Our audience was full of praise and appreciation. Sadly our guest book went missing over the weekend. We’re hoping that it will find its way back to the Art Gallery, but in the meantime we’ve received this by email:

TRUMPETS WILL SOUND
Friday, 17th March 2017

The Mosman Symphony Orchestra drew a full audience to the Art Gallery last Friday evening with a program that was certain to thrill.

The ever-popular “Tannhäuser Overture” composed by Richard Wagner in 1845 proved a treat, as the orchestra captured the complex nuances of this beautiful piece that attracted so much controversy around its premier performances.

John Foster must be proud of his playing, as I was spell-bound. The Rococo “Trumpet Concerto in E-flat” by Johann Baptist Georg Neruda embraces the finest silk-like brass textures, and I wallowed in the seductive interpretation.

The Beethoven 7th Symphony brought the orchestra to life, and the audience to its feet after raising us to the heights of musical colour – so prevalant in this devilish composer. Once again controversy reigns with this work – but so what! It’s a masterpiece unfolding meaning and beauty into our vibrant world of fine Art-Music.

Well done MoSO. See you at the next concert.

Edward.

Concerts, Guest Book, Mosman Community

From the Guest Book

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Here’s what some people had to say after our Northern Lights concert last night:

‘What an absolute gem we have on our doorstep! Thank you for a stupendous evening.’ Bettina

‘Loved the concert as usual. Bach was an absolute treat. Can’t wait till next one.’ Jan

And from Sunday:

‘Fantastic – Tears flowed. Thank you.’ Ruth

‘I have enjoyed the 2016 Season, looking forward to next year. Great performances.’ Anne

And this was sent to us from Edward who attended the concert on Nov 11, Remembrance Day:

VISIONARY

In the dark of remembrance I rested, mesmorised by the complex “Concerto for Two Violins in D-minor” – a divine concertante: and blossoming from the Mosman Symphony, it delivered my mortality to the sweetest glimpse of infinite Grace.

Three cheers for all those sonorious gems that have ever poured from your vat of loveliness, Richard Wagner: your vintage continues to intoxicate classical culture-vultures everywhere. “Siegfried Idyll” was a very satisfying selection from the orchestra’s music cellar, and we quaffed on that rare beaujolaise enough to quench a sailor’s thirst. Pour me another damn it – and another! “Sorte’ Sobriete”! And why not? It caused the earth to move for me, and apparently did wonders for the enraptured juices of Cosimo, until Richard flogged-off this beloved gift to her, presented with some ritual and ceremony, to all and sundry; and that’s men for you!

Was it a mere rush of blood to the head on sighting the panorama of a new century, that sparked pleasant and optimistic harmonies in the first movement of Jean Sibelius’ second symphony? – I think not! They’re a mask for what was to come – and it wasn’t pretty! – MoSO you nailed it! This great work is no walk-in-the-park, and should not be misunderstood or underestimated: its calibre is on par with Beethoven, however, the similarity ends there. Beethoven was on the whole a reactionary for his time, Sibelius channelled the future with dark tones, warning of the disaster that was to unfold onto a humanity flawed with the deadly emotions of pride and greed – “Art” with a capital ‘A’! His carefully considered timings, intricately designed-rhythms and sumptuous harmonies? – Well, we can surmise their veiled or implied meanings, and argue the toss infinitum – but we’re bound to enjoy the ride, as we did! By the way, it was the best interpretation I’ve heard.

Reflect at this time.

Lest we forget

PS: Looking forward to more of your great performances.

reviews

A Night of Magic

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Apart from wonderful classical music in a lovely venue, one of the  really great things about Mosman Symphony Orchestra concerts is the champagne and nibblies afterwards, when the players get to relax and chat to the audience. When people talk about music that has stirred them they are often very eloquent – sometimes poetic.

We thought it was about time that we had a permanent record of some of the lovely things that people say to us after our performances, so we now have a Guest Book.

 

Here are some of the first comments after the Friday night performance of Mosman Symphony Orchestra goes to the movies:

‘A wonderful night of magic music. Thank you so much!’

‘I was absolutely enthralled by the guest conductor and loved the choice of music, a wonderful night!’

If you’re coming to our Sunday performance, we’d love you to share your thoughts in the guest book. There are still some seats available, but you’ll need to be quick!

And from Sunday…

‘Wonderful. Thank you to the conductor for “bringing in the audience”. Fabulous selection of music and professional and talented musicians.’

‘Yet another wonderful performance. Congratulations. Looking forward to the next event’

‘Can’t wait for the next concert! Fabulous!’

‘It was a fabulous concert, my first time at a concert of the Mosman Symphony, and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. My spirits needed lifting, and Mosman Symphony Orchestra most certainly did that! The music choices were perfect, the order of play was so well organised and the acoustics were fabulous!

I would really appreciate being placed on the mailing list and am really looking forward to attending the next concert and into the future.

My thanks to you and, to the entire orchestra.’

This last piece is not in our Guest Book, but was emailed to me. Thank you to Edward for taking the trouble to write such a lovely review:

Spring has Sprung

Spring arrived when the flowers bloomed last week, and as the charming conductor, Carlos Alvarado took to the rostrum, raising his baton elegantly to lead our sublime Mosman Symphony Orchestra through a selection of music from cinematic history.

Composers Johann Strauss and Edward Elgar to “Harry Potter’s” themes of haunting mysticism were on the program, and the orchestra confidently performed for an appreciative audience that yearned for more.

A memorable arrangement from the movie, “Schindler’s List” elevated my mind to a space where only tolerance and peace prevail. Anny Bing Xia achieved a seamless, sweet hypnotic interpretation in that violin performance, and blew me away. Anny, you’re a “Musician’s Musician” – play on!

“Jaffas” were not rolled down the aisles, and precedents can’t be tolerated I’m sure – however, it wouldn’t have taken much for exemptions to be brought forth as the exhilaration of “Radetzky’s March” raised the house, and closed a fabulous evening of block-buster music.

See you at the next concert.

Edward

Concerts

Gliding Maidens, Leaping Lads & Wild Men

The exotic, exciting Polovtsian Dances form the best known scene in Borodin’s opera, Prince Igor. In this scene, the Russian Prince Igor has been taken prisoner by the Polovtsian chief, Khan Konchak. When the Khan sees his noble prisoner is feeling miserable, he orders his slaves to cheer him up with a performance. There are 3 main themes to the dances, which appear in various combinations:

Gliding Dance of the Maidens
The Dance of the Boys
Wild Dance of the Men

The entertainment begins with the Gliding Dance of the Maidens & tender memories of their homeland:

Fly away on the wings of the wind.
Fly away, our native song, to our homeland.
To where we sang you in liberty,
where you and we were so free.

There under the sultry sky
the air is full of bliss.
There to the murmuring of the sea
the mountains half slumber in the clouds.

With the entry of the Men and their Wild Dance, things start to heat up and the timpani ushers in unstinting praise for the Khan:

Sing songs of glory to the Khan! Sing!
Glorify the might, the honour of the Khan! Praise him!
Glorious is Khan! Khan!
Glorious is he, our Khan!
In the gleaming of his glory
Khan is like the sun.
There are none equal in glory to Khan! None!
Khan’s slave girls praise Khan!

Khan is clearly pleased with this and offers Prince Igor the choice of any of his slaves:

Do you see the captive girls from a distant sea?
Do you see my beauties from beyond the Caspian
O say it, friend, say just a word to me
If you want, I’ll give you any one of them!

Then with whistles and whip cracking on come the leaping lads and more praise for the Khan:

Our Khan, Khan Konehak, is equal in glory to his forefathers!
The grim Khan Konehak is equal in glory to his forefathers!
Glory, glory to Khan Konchak!
Khan Konehak!
With your dancing entertain the Khan!
Dance to entertain the Khan, slaves!
Your Khan!
With your dancing entertain the Khan!
Entertain with dancing!
Our Khan Konchak!

It’s hard to believe that even  Prince Igor would not be thrilled by the rousing performance, but he decides that enough is enough and he takes advantage of loose Polovtsian security and escapes. He returns home in triumph ready to unite his people & defend his homeland.

 

 

Concerts, French Horn

That Horn Tune

One of the most wonderful and best loved moments of Tchaikovksy’s 5th Symphony, which the orchestra will play on May 20 & 22, is the noble horn tune from the 2nd movement:

horn melody

It is one of the greatest horn solos in the orchestral repertoire and has inspired a great many adaptations and imitations since it was first composed in 1888. Frank Sinatra performed his version, Moon Love, with the Harry James Orchestra in 1939.

The opening of John Denver’s Annie’s Song follows the same progression and rhythm:

Less obvious is the aria Vesti la giubba, from Leoncavallo’s 1892 opera, Pagliacci. The same melody, but a different rhythm creates a very different effect:

Vestir

That dramatic piece was used by the advertisers of Kellogg’s Rice Bubbles to depict the tragedy of running out of their product. Here’s the American (Rice Crispies) version:

For the advertisers of Winfield cigarettes in the 70’s, Tchaikovsky’s music was the epitome of classys sophistication, with ‘Boris and the band’ setting the scene for a tuxedo clad Paul Hogan to extoll the virtues of the cigarettes with ‘a bit of polish – a touch of class’. Let her rip, Boris!

Concerts

Only 10 More Sleeps…

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There’s only 10 more sleeps to go before our first concert of the year, and we’re very excited to announce the addition of a touch of exotic spice to our program. The orchestra will be performing the world premiere of our very own Kim d’Espiney’s Danza Arabica.

Kim says that her work reflects her love of Arabic music with its vibrant rhythms and interesting textural effects:

“The main reason I decided to compose ‘Danza Arabica’ is because I wanted to celebrate Arabic culture. Like many people, I abhor the carnage and slaughter that is happening right now, from Iraq and Syria to Palestine, and I feel a tremendous sense of helplessness for all the innocent people caught in the cross-fire. An example that springs to mind is the current global tragedy: where thousands of refugees are being turned away by the rest of the world, as they flee war-torn countries to seek asylum.”

There are currently only 14 seats available for Sunday afternoon, but there are still good seats for Friday.

Buy tickets now

Community orchestras, Concerts, Mosman, Subscriptions

2016 Subscription Season Now Open

This year you can buy tickets to all 4 of our major concerts at discounted rates and ensure you get your favourite seat at each concert.

Delight in Beethoven’s evocative Pastorale Symphony, swoon to the romance of Rachmaninov, & thrill to the exciting rhythms of Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien.

We’ll be joined by some outstanding soloists. Two audience favourites return to the orchestra in 2016, with violinist Ron Thomas playing Brahms and pianist Gregory Kinda the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2, and Rachel Tolmie, a newcomer to the orchestra, but very well known to Australian audiences, will play the Donizetti Concerto for Cor Anglais.

The Mosman Symphony Chorus will feature in our main concert program with Borodin’s stirring Polovtsian Dances as well as  in a special Christmas performance of Handel’s Messiah (not included in the subscription series.)

Online subscriptions close on February 12. Don’t miss out!