LPO FUNharmonics programme: Before the Firebird, 13 May 2023

FIREBIRD THE BEFORE

SATURDAY 13 MAY 2023

SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

CONCERT

12.00–1.00PM

ACTIVITIES

10.00–11.45AM

FIREBIRD THE BEFORE

WELCOME TO THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE

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Production support from Richard Mallett Arts Management

FUNharmonics foyer activities are generously supported by Stentor Music Co. Ltd and Jupiter

ON STAGE TODAY

MICHAEL SEAL conductor

PAUL RISSMANN presenter/composer

CATRINE KIRKMAN singer/narrator

BLACKHEATH HALLS YOUTH CHOIR

DEANSFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR

LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

We are delighted to welcome you to the world premiere of Before the Firebird, a brand new piece commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with music by Paul Rissmann and words by Hazel Gould. Inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s masterpiece The Firebird, in which a prince and a Firebird battle an evil king to rescue thirteen captured sisters, our new story imagines ‘what happened before?’

The story is told by composer Paul Rissmann and soprano Catrine Kirkman, with choirs of young people from the Royal Borough of Greenwich, who join the London Philharmonic Orchestra today. Get ready to join in with the songs and actions, and we hope you enjoy this brilliant piece of new music, alongside excerpts from the piece that inspired it.

BEFORE THE FIREBIRD: THE STORY

The story is set in a world that is overshadowed by an evil shapeshifter. His name is Kastchei and he is determined to capture the thirteen brave sisters who live near his palace in a small village.

Kastchei tries to scare the villagers into submission by turning into a mighty storm to show off his power, and warning them that if they don’t give him the sisters he will destroy their homes. The villagers, although scared, rally together. Led by the oldest and most intelligent sister, they gather the thirteen most precious objects that the village has to offer to give to Kastchei in place of the sisters.

Kastchei returns as a storm once more, but he is not satisfied with the village’s offer. The villagers begin to lose hope, and the middle sister suggests that they should give up. But, far away, the majestic Firebird is watching, and she flies to the community’s aid, giving the youngest sister a powerful and magical feather that defeats Kastchei’s power. The villagers celebrate in a joyous party, but all is not as solved as it seems …

TODAY’S MUSIC

IGOR STRAVINSKY ‘Infernal Dance of King Kastchei’ from The Firebird Suite

PAUL RISSMANN Before the Firebird

IGOR STRAVINSKY ‘Finale’ from The Firebird Suite

ON STAGE WITH THE LPO TODAY

Thank you to the young singers and choir leaders who join us on stage today:

BLACKHEATH HALLS YOUTH CHOIR

Choir Leaders:

Helen Brookes & Jessica Norton

Abigail Edwards

Alexa Johnston

Anna Bailey

Annabella Silveira Wells

Ash Hunter

Audrey King

Beatrice Nicolardi

Béla Oliver

Bonnie Gale-Sanders

Carmen Tordesillas

Caspar Joyce

Dara Litvaitis

Dorothea Hill

Doryane Boubouyabou

Elise Moreton Clark

Ellie Zhang

Emilija Valaskeviciute

Emma Giquel

Esther Cook

Eva Knight

Evelina Endean

Frieda Soar

Guste Sinkeviciute

Harry Blackmore

Hartlee Budagowski

Hazel Palmer

Helena Moreton Clark

Hettie Martinez

Iaroslav Gusev

Isabel Penny

Isla Dakshy

Jada Edusei

Jamie Morrison

Jesse Edusei

Jewelisa Igbinosa

Joella Igbinosa

Joshua Graves

Joyce Ojo

Keshika Mohanarajan

Kiarah Shawa-Mclean

Laura Kislick

Leia Joyce

Lilith Robinson

Lucy Gowing

Millie Morrison

Missy Martinez

Oscar Graves

Raffaella Nicolosi

Rory McCann

Rosie Morrison

Tizi Zhang

ON STAGE WITH THE LPO TODAY

Thank you to the young singers and choir leaders who join us on stage today:

DEANSFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR

Choir Leaders:

David Moore & Viola Lenzi

Aidan Joyce

Alexander Newton

Amelia Giddings

Amelie-Rose Ford

Angelina Vaskela

Arthur Rendell

Arwen Hayes

Ava Mcdonald

Bea Melville-Baruc

Beatrix Mei Hodgkinson

Bonnie Els

Bonnie Rombach

Caitlin Parsley

Caseymae Warbyrne

Charlotte Botha

Damian Botha

Donya Thorn Maaoui

Edith Wright

Eliza Andrews

Ella Bown

Ellliot Smith

Eloisa Timmins

Elsa Waldron

Elsie Gosling

Emilia Pangeni

Emma Boyce

Emma Montes GarciaAlcaide

Grace Canham

Grace Kettle

Harry Wong

Hawley KimberleyGarland

Henry Pope

Holly Woznica

Holly-Rose Daniells

Huey Shure Cheng

Imogen Coulthard

Imogen McDonald

Iris Ansell

Isabela Machado De Moura

Isabelle Foreman

Isabelle Low

Isla Frost

Ivy Gosling

Iyla Barlett

Jana Louw

Jasmine Essayah

Jokubas Kekys

Julia Chodkiewicz

Kejia Feng

Lawrence Kiggell

Lena McConnell

Leyla Yavuz

Lila Osborn

Lila Watson

Lilian Baxter

Lim Pang

Lina Pastoshchuk

Lois Adkinson

Louis Cai

Louisa Crooks

Maisie Bonell

Maria Syzova

Mia Grant

Mia Leachman

Mollie Watson

Molly Rendell

Mritsha Saha

Noah White

Norah Brown

Oonagh Joyce

Osaretin Atomon

Poppy Kemble-Ford

Poppy Laing

Rosie Wright

Sara Mustafa

Stefi Muller

Tao Leng

Tarja Day

Theo Crawford

Zachary Foreman

FOYER ACTIVITIES AT THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

MEET THE

A fun vocal workshop, suitable for the whole family – bring your voice and get ready to learn our audience participation songs for today, led by Rosie Adediran.

See and hear orchestral instruments up close in our interactive chamber music sessions inspired by today’s concert. Sessions last for around 15 minutes and are drop-in. Suitable for ages 5+. Pre-concert only. Concert ticket-holders only. Please be aware spaces are subject to availability.

HAVE A GO

OAE TOTS

Try out different instruments with expert musicians from the brass and string families. Suitable for ages 6+. Pre-concert only. Concert ticket holders only. Please be aware spaces are subject to availability.

An introduction to the period instruments of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment as they play music inspired by today’s concert. Suitable for ages 2–5. Pre-booked ticket holders only (ticketed separately).

Please join us after the FUNharmonics concert on The Clore Ballroom, where the Blackheath Halls Youth Choir and Deansfield Primary School Choir will each sing a short selection of pieces from 1.15pm.