From the Stage to the Pit … At last, some cautious optimism for us all; definite emphasis on the ‘cautious’ though. By the time you’re reading this, concerts in some form of ‘normal’ capacity (full houses and non-socially distanced musicians) should have begun to happen. However, of course it remains to be seen whether they will continue indefinitely. Therefore, the upcoming schedule of performances across the UK is looking pretty fantastic so make the most of it! Orchestras and theatres up and down the isle are all seemingly aiming to come back with a bang, programming some epic music for your delectation. Here are the symphonic picks for the next few months: BY JOSH CIRTINA // PRINCIPAL BASS TROMBONE IN THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORC HESTRA
SYMPHONIC HIGHLIGHTS
BBC PROMS 2021
ORCHESTRA OF OPERA NORTH –
Friday, 30 July – Saturday, 11 September. It’s so great to have the Proms back in near-full form. There’s plenty to see here, though book quickly as tickets are sure to be selling out fast, and it is possible many events will now be sold at full capacity. Concerts to look out for include the Aurora Orchestra & Nicholas Collon performing Stravinsky’s Firebird from memory, the BBC Symphony & Sakari Oramo with Malcolm Arnold’s rarely heard 5th Symphony, and the BBC Concert Orchestra & Bramwell Tovey playing 20th Century British film music! Not to mention a whole host of other great programmes
TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY
7.30pm, Thursday, 23 September Town Hall, Huddersfield. On the podium for the first time as Music Director, Garry Walker leads Opera North’s magnificent orchestra through Shostakovich’s rousing 5th Symphony. It’s well worth researching this piece before listening: Shostakovich intertwines tunes from Bizet’s Carmen, the opera hated by Stalin, throughout the symphony to hide them from Stalin’s ear.
BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – SYMPHONIC PICTURES ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – 75
TH
ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
7.30pm, Tuesday, 21 September Royal Albert Hall, London. The RPO celebrates its 75th anniversary in style with Walton’s epic masterwork: Belshazzar’s Feast, featuring Sir Bryn Terfel, the Philharmonia Chorus and plenty of offstage brass. Sheku Kanneh-Mason also plays Elgar’s wonderful Cello Concerto.
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7.30pm, Wednesday, 6 October Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Poole. Needing no introduction, Mussorgsky’s magnificent Pictures at an Exhibition is the climax of this concert. However, this concert also features Ravel’s fiendish Piano Concert in G and Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite, fascinating music originally composed for Daudet’s play, The Girl from the Arles, a tragic story of unrequited love.
