Playing London Sept 2011 – Feb 2012
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At a Glance
Nicholas Maw 30 Oct, 7.00pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Maw Violin Concerto* Sophie’s Choice Suite One foot in Eden still, I stand for chorus Hymnus Royal Academy of Music Holst Singers Stephen Layton conductor Christopher Austin conductor* Tasmin Little violin Crash Bang Wallop! 5 Nov, 12.00pm Cadogan Hall Family Concert Claire Bloor presenter CLoSer 22 Nov, 7.30pm Village Underground John Adams Shaker Loops Simon Milton Clarinet Concertino Brett Dean Between the Spaces in the Sky Bartok Divertimento Michael Collins conductor/clarinet Messiah 7 Dec, 6.30pm St Paul’s Cathedral Handel Messiah St Paul’s Cathedral Choir & Chorus Andrew Carwood conductor
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St Nicolas 19 Dec, 7.30pm St John’s Smith Square Britten A Ceremony of Carols St Nicolas Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Stephen Layton conductor Michael Collins Birthday Concert 27 Jan, 7.30pm Wigmore Hall Mozart Parto, parto from La clemenza di Tito Clarinet Concerto K622 Serenade in B flat K361* London Winds* Michael Collins conductor/clarinet Christine Rice mezzo soprano CLoSer 29 Feb, 7.30pm Village Underground Poulenc Suite Française JS Bach French Suite Poulenc Le bal masque Nystedt Immortal Bach Stravinsky Mass Holst Singers Stephen Layton conductor
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CLS FIVER
War and Peace 27 Sept, 7.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Haydn Mass in Time of War Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem London Concert Choir Mark Forkgen conductor
We offer a limited number of £5 tickets to selected concerts for young people aged 16 – 25 years old. FIVER concerts are indicated in the brochure by the symbol above.
Front cover: Amos, Trombone
Welcome to City of London Sinfonia’s 40th anniversary season. To celebrate, we have performances across London showcasing the Orchestra’s diverse talents led by our Artistic Director Stephen Layton and Principal Conductor Michael Collins. Among these performances, we’re delighted to feature a programme of works by the late Nicholas Maw at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall with special guests Tasmin Little and students from the Royal Academy of Music. We perform Britten’s St Nicolas with Stephen Layton and the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge in December at the St John’s Smith Square Christmas Festival, and we are honoured to play at Wigmore Hall in January at Michael Collins’ 50th birthday concert. In addition, our much loved family concert Crash Bang Wallop! returns to Cadogan Hall in November with all things magical. On 22 November we launch our new concert series CLoSer with string masterpieces by Bela Bartok and John Adams in Shoreditch’s Village Underground. These concerts, devised in partnership with Spitalfields Music, are designed to appeal to those who like their live music experiences to be intimate and informal (and who enjoy a glass of wine while listening!) Whether you are a regular CLS concert attender or joining us for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you warmly to our very special brand of music-making.
Lynda, Principal Bass
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War and Peace
Nicholas Maw
£30, £25, £20, £15, £10 (concessions available) 0844 875 0073 southbankcentre.co.uk Haydn Mass in Time of War Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem
£25 £22 £15 £11 (concessions available) 0844 875 0073 southbankcentre.co.uk Maw Violin Concerto* Sophie’s Choice Suite One foot in Eden still, I stand for chorus Hymnus Students from Royal Academy of Music Holst Singers Stephen Layton conductor Christopher Austin conductor* Tasmin Little violin
Tuesday 27 September 7.30 – 9.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
London Concert Choir Mark Forkgen conductor Helen Meyerhoff soprano Jeanette Ager mezzo soprano Nathan Vale tenor Colin Campbell baritone The Orchestra join forces with London Concert Choir for a performance of one of Haydn’s most popular masses: Mass in Time of War alongside Vaughan Williams’ plea for peace, Dona Nobis Pacem. Both written against the backdrop of approaching war, the pieces convey the anxiety and desperation of the turmoil alongside the hope for a better tomorrow.
Sunday 30 October 7.00 – 9.00pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
A tribute to British master composer Nicholas Maw, who died in 2009, this concert features major milestones of Maw’s career including the Concert Suite from his masterful opera Sophie’s Choice and his sumptuous Violin Concerto. Stephen Layton conducts the Orchestra and students from the Royal Academy of Music, who are joined by international violin superstar Tasmin Little for this very special tribute. CLS FIVER
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Pre concert events 4.00 – 6.30pm Chamber Music 4.00 – 4.45pm Maw La Vita Nuova Robert Peate composition premiere 5.00 – 5.45pm Maw Ghost Dances Ivor Bonnici composition premiere Academy Manson Ensemble Bruce Nockles conductor Sara Lian Owen soprano Pre Concert Talk 6.00 – 6.30pm The Life of Nicholas Maw Anthony Payne in conversation with Andrew Burn All pre concert events are free with no booking required.
In partnership with the Royal Academy of Music Supported by The Boltini Trust In association with Southbank Centre
Helen, Oboe and Jane, Principal Second Violin cls.co.uk 4
Crash Bang Wallop! Magic
H S A CR NG BA OP!
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Saturday 5 November 12.00pm – 1.00pm Pre concert activities from 11.00am Cadogan Hall Adult: £8 Child: £6 Family: £24 020 7730 4500 cadoganhall.com Mozart Magic Flute Overture Grieg In the Hall of the Mountain King Saint-Saens Dance Macabre Berlioz Dance of the Sylphs Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Tchaikovsky Waltz of the Flowers from Nutcracker Claire Bloor presenter Pre concert creative activities include: • Magic wand and hat making • Stick puppetry • Meet the Musicians • Minute Maestro conducting Our hugely successful family concert series is back, this time with all things magical. Our presenter will introduce young listeners to the sounds of the Orchestra through some of the most magical orchestral pieces of all time. There will also be plenty of opportunity for lots of singing and participation too. Come dressed as your favourite magical inspired character or creature!
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Concert is suitable for children eight years and under In association with Cadogan Hall
CLoSer
20 £1 ti availa ckets ble*
Brand New Concert Series
£15 (includes a free drink) concessions available
*20 tickets available at £1 for each concert; see website for details CLS FIVER
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020 7377 1362 spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk Booking opens 5 September
Photo Benjamin Harte
Tuesday 22 November 7.30 – 8.45pm (no interval) Village Underground
Our brand new concert series CLoSer launches at one of East London’s newest venues: Village Underground. This informal series allows you to get ‘closer’ to the Orchestra with informal ‘talking’ programme notes throughout the performance, post concert music and discussion, as well as the chance to mingle with our musicians. The first concert kicks off with a strings masterclass including John Adams’ immensely popular Shaker Loops and Bartok’s spirited and joyful masterpiece Divertimento for Strings. The second concert celebrates the voice in all its glory, through some of Europe’s finest masters as well as French suites by Bach and Poulenc.
John Adams Shaker Loops Simon Milton Clarinet Concertino Brett Dean Between the Spaces in the Sky Bartok Divertimento for Strings Michael Collins conductor/clarinet
Wednesday 29 February 7.30 – 8.45pm (no interval) Village Underground Poulenc Suite Française JS Bach French Suite Poulenc Le bal masque Nystedt Immortal Bach Stravinsky Mass Holst Singers Stephen Layton conductor
Coming next…
Wednesday 25 April CLoSer with Gwilym Simcock
Please note there will be no traditional concert seating in the venue
In partnership with Spitalfields Music
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Handel’s Messiah
Wednesday 7 December 6.30 – 9.15pm St Paul’s Cathedral Free, booking required* Handel Messiah St Pauls’s Cathedral Choir & Chorus Andrew Carwood conductor The majesty of St Paul’s Cathedral provides the perfect setting for Handel’s enduring masterpiece and most popular work. With its vivid portrayal of biblical scenes and high emotional charge, the Messiah has become a traditional fixture marking the start of Christmas for many. *To apply for free tickets, please send a stamped addressed envelope to Messiah Tickets, The Chapter House, London EC4M 8AD. Tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Nick, Principal Trumpet 7 cls.co.uk
St Nicolas
Monday 19 December 7.30 – 9.15pm St John’s Smith Square £25, £20, £15, £10 concessions: 10% off 020 7222 1061 sjss.org.uk Booking opens 3 October Britten A Ceremony of Carols St Nicolas Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Holst Singers Boys from the Temple Church Choir Stephen Layton conductor Allan Clayton tenor Sally Pryce harp Part of the 26th annual Christmas Festival at St John’s Smith Square, City of London Sinfonia joins some the UK’s most talented choirs as they perform Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols unusually written for a choir and harp, and the dramatic retelling of the legendary story of St Nicholas, the patron saint of the poor and the oppressed. A Christmas treat not to be missed! In association with St John’s Smith Square
City of London Festival Winter Concert Series January – March St Andrew Church Holborn Free No booking required Our annual free lunchtime concert series returns. Please visit our website for more details available from December 2011. In partnership with City of London Festival and the City of London
Michael Collins 50th Birthday Concert Friday 27 January 7.30 – 9.15pm Wigmore Hall
Booking details available from end of September 020 7935 2141 wigmore-hall.org.uk Mozart Parto, parto from La clemenza di Tito Clarinet Concerto K622 Serenade in B flat K361* London Winds* Michael Collins conductor/clarinet Christine Rice mezzo soprano A gala concert in celebration of world renowned clarinettist and City of London Sinfonia’s Principal Conductor, Michael Collins’ 50th birthday. Featuring music by one of the masters of the clarinet repertoire, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael will perform his Clarinet Concerto with mezzo-soprano Christine Rice performing one of his most famous arias Parto, parto. A chance to see the Orchestra and our inspirational Principal Conductor in full flow, and the virtuoso musicianship that has earned Michael his deserved reputation. In association with Wigmore Hall
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Coming next…
Scott of the Antarctic Centenary Concert Tour
Tour dates: Friday 3 February Symphony Hall, Birmingham Saturday 4 February Corn Exchange, Cambridge Wednesday 7 February St David’s Hall, Cardiff Thursday 8 February Town Hall, Cheltenham Saturday 3 March Cadogan Hall, London
photo SPRI
Programme: Vaughan Williams Extracts from Scott of the Antarctic Cecilia McDowall Seventy degrees below zero world premiere Vaughan Williams Symphony No 7 Sinfonia Antartica
This landmark concert tour retraces the steps of Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in music, images and words. Excerpts from Vaughan Williams’s film score Scott of the Antarctic are interwoven with moving readings from Scott’s diary by TV star and explorer Ben Fogle, along with the world premiere of Cecilia McDowell’s new piece setting music to words from Scott’s poignant final letter, To my widow.
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Holst Singers Stephen Layton conductor Robert Murray tenor Ben Fogle narrator
In partnership with Scott Polar Research Institute Supported by Arts Council England, Colwinston Charitable Trust, Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust
Venues Cadogan Hall 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX St Andrew Holborn 5 St Andrew Street, EC4A 3AB St John’s Smith Square Smith Square, SW1P 3HA St Paul’s Cathedral Saint Paul’s Church Yard, EC4M 8AD Village Underground 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ Programme details are correct at time of going to press. City of London Sinfonia reserves the right to alter the artists and/or programmes at any time. Photography: Benjamin Ealovega Design: JUMP Design
Wigmore Hall 36 Wigmore Street, W1U 2BP Travel Information can be found at tfl.gov.uk / 020 7222 1234
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One of the UK’s leading chamber orchestras, City of London Sinfonia (CLS) was founded in 1971 by the late Richard Hickox and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Led by Stephen Layton (Artistic Director & Principal Conductor) and Michael Collins (Principal Conductor), the Orchestra has earned a reputation for strong, distinctive programming, outstanding performances and recordings, and a passion for music featuring the voice. Performing throughout the UK and abroad, CLS makes regular appearances at all the major London concert halls as well as St Paul’s Cathedral and other venues in the City of London. It has been resident orchestra at the capital’s popular Opera Holland Park since 2004 and holds a long-standing residency in High Wycombe, as well as being a regular guest at major UK festivals.
40th Anniversary Season Sept 2011- Aug 2012
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28 Great Tower Street, London, EC3R 5AT 020 7621 2800 info@cls.co.uk cityoflondonsinfonia CityLdnSinfonia
cls.co.uk Reg Charity No: 286818