2015-2016 Norwich concert season
thomas gould
Associate Leader, Britten Sinfonia
intro duction A very warm welcome to Britten Sinfonia’s 2015-16 Norwich Season. Whilst the orchestra’s profile is burgeoning internationally, with recent visits to four continents including New York’s Lincoln Centre, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Teatro Colón Buenos Aires and the NCPA in Mumbai, our first priority and home base is rooted in East Anglia from where we tour projects nationally and internationally.
“It is the spirit of adventure that has won Britten Sinfonia a reputation as one of the UK’s most forward-thinking musical ensembles”
Our 2015-16 Norwich season comprises 9 concerts with 4 major orchestral performances and 5 lunchtime chamber recitals featuring stellar artists performing some of the greatest classical music, peppered with a typical Britten Sinfonia mix of the surprising and new. The orchestral series features sensational American pianist Jeremy Denk, famed for his Bach performances and we also showcase the British wunderkind, Benjamin Grosvenor, who joins Jacqueline Shave directing a programme to celebrate 10 years
as Britten Sinfonia’s leader – please do come and join the party – including a directed performance of Strauss’ string masterpiece, Metamorphosen. There’s a matchless line-up of soloists, including Carolyn Sampson and Iestyn Davies for our Messiah, and tenor Ian Bostridge will sing Purcell and Britten in the final concert of the season. Our award-winning At Lunch series, now in its 10th season, includes chamber music classics by Bach, Brahms, Schumann and Debussy, alongside new works by a range of exciting talents including New York-based British composer Anna Clyne and Icelandic prodigy Daníel Bjarnason. We hope there’s something for everyone to enjoy and discover, and on behalf of myself and the Britten Sinfonia musicians, we look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a thrilling season of concerts.
DAVID BUTCHER Chief Executive, Britten Sinfonia
norwich concert series 2015-16 Season
handel’s messiah
jeremy denk directs
carolyn sampson soprano iestyn davies countertenor allan clayton christopher purves bass britten sinfonia voices eamonn dougan conductor Messiah
jeremy denk piano/director jacqueline shave violin/director
bach arr. stravinsky Prelude and Fugue X stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks stravinsky Ragtime hindemith Ragtime bach Keyboard Concerto in E Major,
ST. ANDREW’S HALL WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015
7.30pm
tenor
TICKETS £8-£30 CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE
Handel’s remarkable oratorio Messiah, with its vivid portrayal of biblical scenes and high emotional charge, is staple ‘fare’ in many people’s Christmas musical diet. In this performance Britten Sinfonia is joined by a stellar quartet of soloists for a festive performance that is sure to be both thrilling and jubilant.
BWV1053
bach arr. stravinsky Prelude
in conversation - 6.30pm
and Fugue XXIV
Pre-concert talk with tonight’s soloists about Handel’s Messiah.
bach arr. webern Fuga stravinsky Piano-Rag-Music stravinsky Tango bach Keyboard Concerto in A Major, BWV 1055
Denk
jeremy denk piano ST. ANDREW’S HALL FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2015
7.30pm
TICKETS £8-£27 CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE
Widely-acclaimed American pianist Jeremy Denk joins Britten Sinfonia fresh from his debut at this year’s BBC Proms. He directs a vibrant programme of music from two of history’s greatest composers, J S Bach and Stravinsky. From intellectual and distinguished baroque counterpoint to thrilling 20th-century reimagining of ragtime and tango, this programme and this exceptional pianist are sure to exhilarate and impress.
in conversation - 6.30pm Pre-concert talk with Jeremy Denk about the programme.
carolyn sampson soprano page 2
page 3
IAN BOSTRIDGE directs ian bostridge tenor/director jacqueline shave violin/director bach arr. hogwood Fugue in B minor on a Theme of Corelli, BWV 579
tippett Fantasia Concertante on a theme by Corelli
corelli Concerto Grosso in F major,
huw watkins Three Welsh Songs britten Serenade for tenor, horn
Op. 3 No. 2
Bostridge
purcell arr. britten Evening Hymn
piano/director
jacqueline shave
SUNDAY 19 JUNE 2016
7.30pm
TICKETS £8-£27 CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE
Britten Sinfonia once again joins forces with acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge in a performance that includes one of Benjamin Britten’s seminal works, Serenade for tenor, horn and strings.
BENJAMIN GROSVENOR directs benjamin grosvenor
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
and strings
violin/director
in conversation - 6.30pm Pre-concert talk about tonight’s programme.
Grosvenor
bartók String Quartet No. 2 (2nd movement) elena langer New work (world premiere tour) mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat Major, K595 strauss Metamorphosen ST ANDREW’S HALL FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2016
7.30pm
TICKETS £8-£27 CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE
In a long list of young composers and musicians to have worked with Britten Sinfonia, few come with a higher pedigree than pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. Praised for his electrifying performances, he makes his Britten Sinfonia debut directing Mozart’s last Piano Concerto from the keyboard.
in conversation - 6.30pm Celebrating ten years with Britten Sinfonia, Jacqueline Shave discusses her role as leader/director in this pre-concert talk. page 4
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britten sinfonia at lunch
AT LUNCH TWO Friday 15 January 2016
Now in it’s 10 players performing chamber music. Each hour-long concert pairs major works from the chamber repertoire with new pieces co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall. th year, Britten Sinfonia’s award-winning At Lunch series showcases our principal
julia doyle soprano tbc oboe jacqueline shave violin miranda dale violin clare finnimore viola caroline dearnley cello maggie cole harpsichord bach Gott versorget alles Leben
At Lunch
(from Cantata BWV187)
ST ANDREW’S HALL 1.00pm
TICKETS £9
£3 STUDENTS & UNDER 18S
SUBSCRIBE TO THE EVENING CONCERTS & PAY JUST £7 FOR AT LUNCH TICKETS (SEE PAGE 8)
horn
jacqueline shave
huw watkins Horn Trio edward nesbit (winner of opus2015)
violin
huw watkins
Not (from Cantata BWV21)
piano
notturne dal campo
AT LUNCH THREE Friday 19 February 2016 emer mcdonough
AT LUNCH ONE Friday 27 November 2015 richard watkins
bach Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer,
ligeti Continuum anna clyne This Lunar Beauty (world premiere tour) scarlatti arr. sciarrino Due arie
flute
clare finnimore
debussy Syrinx donatoni Small II daniel bjarnason New work
viola
lucy wakeford
harp
donatoni Marches debussy Sonata for flute, viola and harp
(world premiere tour)
Lifesize Gods (world premiere tour)
brahms Albumblatt brahms Horn Trio
AT LUNCH FOUR Friday 8 April 2016 thomas gould violin clare finnimore huw watkins piano bartok Duos (selection) bryce dessner New work
viola
caroline dearnley
schumann
cello
Piano Quartet
(world premiere tour)
AT LUNCH FIVE Thursday 30 June 2016 britten sinfonia academy and members of britten sinfonia Celebrating the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Bicentenary, a performance of music by Handel and a new work inspired by original Handel manuscripts unearthed from the Founders Bequest to the Fitzwilliam Museum.
page 7
BOOKING INFORMATION
jacqueline shave
TICKETS
subscription offer
evening concerts FRI 25 SEPTEMBER 2015 WED 16 DECEMEBER 2015 FRI 29 APRIL 2016 SUN 19 JUNE 2016
Book for all four evening concerts at the same time and save 20% (excludes lowest two price bands). Season subscribers also enjoy an annual reception and £7 tickets for Britten Sinfonia At Lunch concerts.
£27, £24, £21, £14, £8 £30, £26, £22, £15, £8 £27, £24, £21, £14, £8 £27, £24, £21, £14, £8
at lunch concerts £9
eVeNiNG coNcert coNcessioNs
under 18s and students
All tickets £5 (excl £8 seats, students must show a valid NUS card)
go4less All tickets £8 (must show a valid card, limited availability)
jobseekers All tickets £5 (excl £8 seats, must show valid ID) Please note only one concession applies per customer.
Top price seats are half price for those registered blind or partially sighted and one companion. Certain seats across all price bands are removable to accommodate wheelchairs – these tickets are half price for the wheelchair user and one companion (excl lowest price). If your choice of seat is restricted by access requirements, or you require a carer to accompany you, let the Box Office know and they will offer you and your companion a discount.
AT LUNCH CONCESSIONS
under 18s and students
jobseekers
All tickets £3 (students must show a valid NUS card)
All tickets £3 (must show valid ID)
Please note only one concession applies per customer.
how to book Online at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk By phone 01603 630000 Monday – Saturday 9.30am-8pm (6pm if no evening performance) In person Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, NR2 1RL
venue
info
booking fees and refunds £1.20 postage and packing fee charged for tickets booked online or by phone. Britten Sinfonia has a no refunds policy.
schools and 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.
St Andrew’s Hall, 37 St Andrew’s St, Norwich, NR2 4AD | www.standrewshall.co.uk Theatre Royal, Theatre St, Norwich, NR2 1RL | www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
All information and booking fees correct at time of going to press. Britten Sinfonia reserves the right to make changes to advertised programmes and artists as necessary.
Leader, Britten Sinfonia
Britten Sinfonia 13 Sturton Street Cambridge CB1 2SN United Kingdom Telephone: 01223 300795 Email: info@brittensinfonia.com www.brittensinfonia.com
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