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 ORCHESTRA

SYMPHONIC HIGHLIGHTS

BBC PROMS 2021 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

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – 75TH 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.

ORCHESTRA OF OPERA NORTH – 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 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.

LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – BARTOK’S BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE 7.30pm, Saturday, 6 November Royal Festival Hall, London. This work is a real psychological thriller. Duke Bluebeard’s Castle has seven doors, and his new wife Judith is determined to open them all. However, some questions are best left unanswered. Not to be missed!

ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA – RIMSKY-KORSAKOV’S SCHEHERAZADE 7.30pm Friday 12 November Venue tbc, Edinburgh. 7.30pm Saturday 13 November Venue tbc, Glasgow. The RSNO has multiple highlights coming up in its winter season but here’s a classic. A work that never fails to bring a smile to the audience’s face with so much cheek and character – and not to mention some great writing for all sections of the orchestra, including the brass.

BY BECKY SMITH // PRINCIPAL TROMBONE AT THE ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA

OPERA PICKS

I never thought I’d be so excited to be writing about upcoming opera performances! After nearly 18 months of dark nights in theatres and opera houses across the UK we are really going for it. In fact, it is hard for me to choose highlights from all that is being performed, but what a lovely situation to be in.

ROYAL OPERA – JANACEK’S JENUFA Tuesday, 28 September – Tuesday, 12 October Royal Opera House, London. From the start of the season in September through to December the Royal Opera House are showing an impressive seven operas, and three ballets on the main stage. One of my favourites is Janacek’s Jenufa. It is hauntingly beautiful music, please watch if you can!

GLYNDEBOURNE Friday, 8 October – Sunday, 12 December Venues nationwide. Glyndebourne is touring across the UK, visiting Canterbury, Norwich, Milton Keynes and Liverpool. They are showing a great variety of opera to include Fidelio by Beethoven, Don Pasquale by Donizetti, The Rake’s Progress by Stravinsky and the Messiah by Handel.

OPERA NORTH Saturday, 2 October – Saturday, 20 November Venues across the North-East. There is nothing not to enjoy from Opera North in their opening season with many people’s favourite, Carmen by Bizet and a double bill of Bernstein with Trouble in Tahiti and West Side Story Symphonic Dances. Opera North will perform these at home in Leeds, and also in Newcastle, Salford Quays and Nottingham.

GRANGE PARK OPERA Streaming November – December I must mention the interim season at Grange Park Opera, of which there are some fantastic singers performing with piano. Ailish Tynan, Simon Keenlyside and Nicky Spence are all appearing in either November and December and are well worth a listen if you can.

ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA – WAGNER’S VALKYRIE Friday, 19 November – Friday, 10 December London Coliseum, London. On a personal note, I am really looking forward to ENO putting on Valkyrie, which was delayed due to the pandemic.

Let’s hope this new season marks the return of opera and live music for good. Please go out there and enjoy it safely! ◆