2011 - 2012 Concert Season

Saturday 10th March 2012

7.30 pm at the United Reformed Church, Southernhay, Exeter

A CLASSICAL DELIGHT

MOZART: Symphony No.40
BRUCH: Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor (soloist: Marie Langrishe)
WALTON: Symphony No.1

Our March concert has much to appeal to all music lovers. As those of you who regularly attend our concerts know we do try to explore quite a range of music and these next two concerts are no exception.

The opening work is Mozart’s great Symphony no 40 in G minor – a key that draws great passion and dark colour from the composer to whom keys were a great source of contrast and meaning. Relentless ostinato figures, insistent melodic figures and strong surging melodies. It needs no introduction from me – just a great way to start a gig.

We really enjoy our overall principle of welcoming young and upcoming players/singers to be soloists, with the occasional visit from a more established one – and they never fail to give great performances and play with colour and dedication. Tonight’s soloist represents the range – from the established and world famous violinist Tasmin Little last November 2010 to Marie Langrishe in this concert – just starting out on her musical career but already well known by local audiences as a violinist by music lovers here in Exeter while at The Maynard School. She brings with her one of the greatly loved concerti – the Bruch in G minor – I need say no more.

We started a pattern of exploring great 20th century symphonies with Sibelius 5 last March, and this March it is that long awaited 1st Symphony by Sir William Walton of ‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ fame. It took him three years to compose but the result was greeted triumphantly by critics and audience alike – tuneful, strong, contrasted and scored for a large orchestra – for those of you who know it you will need no persuading to listen again. If you haven’t heard it – come and be amazed at this superb work.

Marie Langrishe

Marie is 19 and lives near Honiton. She started learning the violin aged 7, and continued musical studies whilst a scholar at Maynard School in Exeter where she led both the school orchestras and the school quartet for a number of years. During this time she gained Distinction in her grade 8 violin, played with the Devon County Youth Orchestra and was a member of Pro Corda, the National School for Young Chamber Music Players.
Marie started at the Royal College of Music in 2009 and studied under Yossi Zivoni.
Amongst Marie’s public concerts have been Budleigh Salterton Festival, Ten Tors Orchestra Chamber Ensemble and the European Union Chamber Orchestra.
 

Saturday 14th July 2012

7.30 pm at the United Reformed Church, Southernhay, Exeter

Co-incident with the Flower Festival In Exeter Cathedral

FLOWERS & MUSIC

TCHAIKOVSKY: Valse des Fleurs
HONEGGER: Pacific 231
STRAUSS: Horn Concerto No1 (soloist: Jonathan Harris)
RUTTER: Suite Antique
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.5
 

Jonathan Harris

Jonathan began playing the horn aged 9. Two years later he was a member of the Children’s National Orchestra. In 2004 he began studies with Lindsey Stoker at the Royal Northern College of Music. He was principal horn in the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Baroque Orchestra. He is a member of the young professional wind quintet Souza Winds.  As a freelance horn player, Jonathan has played with the Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Concerts Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. He has played horn with the touring shows The Secret Garden and Jekyll and Hyde, the latter staring Marti Pellow. As a soloist Jonathan has performed concertos with the City of Carlisle Orchestra and the Solway Sinfonia.