Concerts in Cambridge
“An inspirational orchestra.� The Guardian
20th Anniversary
Play Your Part Britten Sinfonia relies on the generosity of individuals who support the orchestra’s vision. You can help create our future. Here’s how: Join our Friends (£50 - £150) The support of our Friends is one of the building blocks of our success. In return, we give you priority booking, acknowledgement in our concert programmes, and invitations to exclusive events. Become a Chair Partner (£500 - £1,000) Get closer to Britten Sinfonia by supporting one of our musicians. In return, we give you priority booking, a special relationship with your chosen player, access to rehearsals, and acknowledgement in our concert programmes. Sinfonia Circle (£2,500+) Help Britten Sinfonia reach new artistic heights by supporting specific projects: from commissioning music, sponsoring international tours, or enabling Creative Learning initiatives. For more information contact our Development team on 01223 300 795, or email info@brittensinfonia.com
Design: carly.merrydew@gmail.com
Britten Sinfonia 13 Sturton Street Cambridge CB1 2SN Telephone: +44 (0)1223 300795 Fax: +44 (0)1223 302092 Email: info@brittensinfonia.com www.brittensinfonia.com Chief Executive: David Butcher Chairman: Stephen Bourne Registered Charity No. 291245
All details correct at time of print, however, Britten Sinfonia reserves the right to substitute repertoire and artists as necessary.
International Partner
Emma Feilding, oboe
Paul Archibald, trumpet Alexandra Reid, violin
Huw Watkins, piano
Jacqueline Shave, leader Caroline Dearnley, cello Photos on this page: Harry Rankin ©
musicianship “Virtuoso and a gloriously Resident in Cambridge since its inception 20 years ago, Britten Sinfonia has become one of the world’s most celebrated and pioneering ensembles. The orchestra is acclaimed for its virtuoso musicianship, and an inspired approach to concert programming which makes bold, intelligent connections across 400 years of repertoire. Britten Sinfonia breaks the mould by not having a principal conductor or director, instead choosing to collaborate with some of the finest international artists from across the musical spectrum, resulting in performances of rare insight and energy. Join us and enjoy the Britten Sinfonia experience.
imaginative choice of repertoire, soloists and conductors.
”
The Times
Book tickets: www.brittensinfonia.com | 01223 357851 | Cambridge Corn Exchange
Monday 22 October 2012 West Road Concert Hall – 7.30pm Pekka Kuusisto violin/director Thomas Gould violin/director Jacqueline Shave violin/director Caroline Dearnley cello Nicholas Daniel oboe Britten Sinfonia Academy Alissa Firsova Birthday commission (World première tour) Sibelius Rakastava Bach Concerto for Oboe and Violin James MacMillan Birthday commission (World première tour) Tippett Fantasia Concertante on a theme of Corelli Prokofiev Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’
Pekka Kuusisto - Marija Tammi ©
BRITTEN SINFONIA 20TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT Quirky, imaginative, and quintessentially Britten Sinfonia, this 20th birthday concert showcases our musicians and close collaborator Pekka Kuusisto, as well as the orchestra’s collective sound. The repertoire is drawn from some of our favourite projects, and also features two specially-commissioned premières: a new work by James MacMillan, and a piece by rising composer Alissa Firsova for our Academy of talented young musicians from the East of England. Don’t miss this celebration of Britten Sinfonia, present and future. In conversation – 6.30pm A special 20th birthday pre-concert talk £35, £29, £19 (includes an interval birthday reception)
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Alice Coote SINGS Phaedra Alice Coote is the “superlative British mezzo.”
Alice Coote - Ben Ealovega ©
San Francisco Chronicle
Monday 19 November 2012 West Road Concert Hall – 7.30pm Alice Coote mezzo-soprano Jacqueline Shave violin/director Purcell Rondeau from Abdelazer Suite Purcell arr.Nico Muhly Let the Night Perish (Job’s Curse) Purcell arr. Stokowski Dido’s Lament Tippett A Lament, from Divertimento on ‘Sellinger’s Round’ Handel Selection of arias from Alcina Britten Prelude and Fugue Purcell ed. Britten Chacony in G minor Tippett Little Music Britten Phaedra
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Ahead of what would have been Benjamin Britten’s 99th birthday, acclaimed mezzosoprano Alice Coote debuts with Britten Sinfonia in a celebration of Britten and beautiful English music for voice and strings. Coote also performs a selection of arias from Handel’s mystical baroque opera of knights and sorcerers, Alcina. Providing a dramatic climax to the programme is Britten’s late masterwork, his Handelian cantata Phaedra. In Conversation – 6.30pm Free pre-concert talk Britten and his creative world £30, £25, £15
ANGELA HEWITT directs BEETHOVEN Friday 11 January 2013 West Road Concert Hall – 7.30pm
Acknowledged as one of the finest pianists of her generation, Angela Hewitt makes an eagerly awaited return to Cambridge following her 2011 performance of Mozart and Bach. In this concert she performs two of Beethoven’s famed piano concertos: his youthful second, and the intimate and serene fourth. Alongside each concerto, Britten Sinfonia leader Thomas Gould directs Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Sibelius’ ethereal Scene with Cranes. Early booking for this concert is advised.
Angela Hewitt piano/director Thomas Gould violin/director Wagner Siegfried Idyll Beethoven Piano Concerto No.2 Sibelius Scene with Cranes Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4
In Conversation – 6.30pm Free pre-concert talk with Angela Hewitt
want the sheer “joyIf you of human creation
and recreation, then go to a piano recital by Angela Hewitt.
”
The Times
Angela Hewitt - Peter Hundert ©
£30, £25, £15
BALTIC NIGHts Alina Ibragimova - Sussie Ahlburg ©
Monday 25 February 2013 West Road Concert Hall – 7.30pm Alina Ibragimova violin/director Jacqueline Shave violin/director Britten Sinfonia Voices Perotin Viderunt omnes Bach Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor E¯riks Es˘envalds New work (World première tour) Bach Motet - Komm, Jesu, komm Pe¯teris Vasks Violin Concerto ‘Distant Light’
Ibragimova “ positively oozes
music. Ever wondered why great musicians are called ‘artists’? Here’s the proof.
”
The Independent
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Exceptionally talented violinist Alina Ibragimova shows her artistry and versatility performing two contrasting concertos: Pe¯teris Vasks’ contemporary masterpiece Distant Light, and one of only two surviving solo violin concertos by Bach. Britten Sinfonia’s professional choir intersperses haunting music from Perotin and Bach, and E¯riks Es˘envalds brings the programme’s themes together in a new commission for strings and voices directed by leader Jacqueline Shave. In Conversation – 6.30pm Free pre-concert talk with E¯riks Es˘envalds £30, £25, £15
ADAMS AND MUHLY Friday 24 May 2013 West Road Concert Hall – 7.30pm
Rhythms, loops and electronic fusions combine in this programme celebrating American minimalism and cross-genre inventiveness. Showcasing his highly musical and energetic style, percussionist Colin Currie performs the UK première of Nico Muhly’s Double Percussion Concerto. Muhly’s concerto for electric violin Seeing is Believing is also a showcase for its dedicatee, Britten Sinfonia leader, Thomas Gould. Opening the concert is John Adams’ rippling Shaker Loops and flamboyant, cartoon music inspired Chamber Symphony.
Colin Currie percussion Winner of 2012 TROMP percussion competition Thomas Gould violin Clark Rundell conductor John Adams Shaker Loops John Adams Chamber Symphony Nico Muhly Seeing is Believing Nico Muhly Double Percussion Concerto (UK première tour)
In Conversation – 6.30pm Free pre-concert talk with Colin Currie
brilliance of Currie’s “Theplaying is inseparable from the thrill of watching him perform acts of tremendous dexterity.
”
The Guardian
brittensinfonia
Twitter@brittensinfonia www.brittensinfonia.com
Colin Currie - Marco Borggreve ©
£30, £25, £15
Harry Rankin ©
britten sinfonia at lunch
Subscribe
to Britten Sinfonia’s evening concerts and pay just £5 for At Lunch tickets. See page 11 for details West Road Concert Hall – 1pm Our award-winning lunchtime concerts feature Britten Sinfonia principal musicians performing major works from the chamber repertoire. This season, as we move into Benjamin Britten’s centenary year our At Lunch concerts explore Britten’s chamber music alongside his influences and contemporaries. Drawing inspiration from the programmes will be new commissions from emerging and established composers. £8, £3 (under 18s and students)
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At Lunch 1 Tuesday 4 December 2012
At Lunch 3 Tuesday 12 February 2013
Jacqueline Shave violin Miranda Dale violin Clare Finnimore viola Caroline Dearnley cello Stephen Williams double bass Emer McDonough flute Nicholas Daniel oboe Joy Farrall clarinet Sarah Burnett bassoon Stephen Bell horn
Thomas Gould violin Miranda Dale violin Clare Finnimore viola Caroline Dearnley cello Huw Watkins piano
Britten Phantasy Quartet Op.2 Lutoslawski Dance Preludes Dobrinka Tabakova New work (World première tour)* Britten Sinfonietta Op.1
At Lunch 2 Tuesday 22 January 2013 Mark Padmore tenor Stephen Bell horn Huw Watkins piano Richard Rodney Bennett Tom O’Bedlam’s Song Poulenc Elégie (in memory of Dennis Brain) Gerald Barry New work (World première tour)* Walton Three Songs (words Edith Sitwell) Britten The Heart of the Matter
Copland Vitebsk Shostakovich Two Pieces for String Quartet (Elegy & Polka) Britten Reflection Jay Greenberg New work (World première tour)* Britten Three Divertimenti
At Lunch 4 Tuesday 9 April 2013 Jacqueline Shave violin Miranda Dale violin Clare Finnimore viola Caroline Dearnley cello Nicholas Daniel oboe Lucy Wakeford harp Britten Six Metamorphoses after Ovid Britten Tema ‘Sacher’ Bridge Two Old English Songs Opus 2013 composition winner New work (World première tour)* Britten Suite for Harp Bridge Sir Roger de Coverley
*Co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall
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© Ed Vere
MR BIG FAMILY CONCERT
Saturday 6 October 2012 West Road Concert Hall – 2pm & 4pm
“Mr Big had a small problem. Compared to everyone else, he was extremely big!”
Hannah Conway presenter Ed Vere author/illustrator
Discover the story of Mr Big, the lonely gorilla whose scary appearance puts off potential friends, until he discovers a musical talent. Join Britten Sinfonia and presenter Hannah Conway for our interactive family concert with live illustrations on stage from Mr Big’s author, Ed Vere. The concert’s songs will be available to learn on the Britten Sinfonia website. £10 adults/children (Suitable for ages 3 to 7, babies in arms free)
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booking Information Tickets Please see individual concerts for ticket prices
Season Subscription Offer Book all five evening concerts at the same time and save 20%* (five concerts for the price of four!) *excludes £15 tickets
2012-13 season subscribers also enjoy an annual reception and £5 tickets for Britten Sinfonia At Lunch concerts
Concessions • Evening concerts: Under 18s and full-time students – tickets £5* • At Lunch concerts: Under 18s and full-time students – tickets £3* • Patrons with a disability are eligible to a free companion ticket if they require a carer to accompany them. Please note there is limited space for wheelchair users. *Please note only one concession applies per customer. Students must have valid NUS card Schools & Families We welcome school groups and families to all our concerts. For discounted tickets, schools’ programme notes and additional benefits please contact our Creative Learning team
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How to book • In person Cambridge Corn Exchange, Wheeler Street, CB2 3QB • By phone 01223 357851 • Online www.brittensinfonia.com (booking fees apply) (Box Office open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays) Collecting Tickets • Tickets can be posted at a cost of £1 or collected in person from the Corn Exchange until the day before the performance. • Tickets can be collected at West Road Concert Hall from 6.00pm on concert night • At Lunch tickets can be collected at West Road Concert Hall from 12pm on concert day Refunds Britten Sinfonia operates a no refunds policy Venue Information West Road Concert Hall 11 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP www.westroad.org West Road Concert Hall is fully accessible and there are hearing loops Parking Limited metered parking is available on West Road, Sidgwick Avenue and Queen’s Road
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