PROGRAMME THIS CONCERT IS DEDICATED TO Martin Carr Paul Carr, Air for Strings Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G minor INTERVAL Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde Jonathan Stoughton (tenor) Gavin Carr (baritone) Jason Thornton (conductor) The Jennifer Skellett Chair
BATH PHILHARMONIA IS GENEROUSLY Supported BY THE ROPER FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
The Kiss (Lovers) Gustav Klimt (1907–1908)
Martin Carr (1932 - 2014) Martin Carr was a trustee of Bath Philharmonia and a strong supporter of musical life in the City of Bath. He started his career in the arts as a stage manager at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden where he met and then married the celebrated Australian soprano, Una Hale. Together they had two sons, Paul and Gavin, both taking part in this evening’s concert. Carr & Angier, one of the world’s leading theatre consultancy firms, has been based in Bath since the early 1980’s, a company Martin formed with Peter Angier setting even higher standards for the technical design and building of new theatres and concert halls around the world. It had long been Martin’s desire that Bath should one day have a first-rate concert hall of its own and he failed to
understand how a city with such a rich cultural heritage could be one of the only major cities in this country without such a venue. This was a subject close to his heart and one he fought tirelessly for with Bath City Council, but alas, in vein. Martin was always to be seen at Bath Phil concerts and will be remembered as someone with grace and charm and a most persuasive turn of phrase. He instigated the Friends of Bath Phil and chased up membership in support of the orchestra. Always a kind and generous man he delighted in the varying forms of support and sponsorship he could give to music in the City of Bath, as well as support for his two sons and their various musical adventures, including two prominent recordings of Paul’s choral music with Bath Philharmonia, conducted by Gavin. He was born in Penzance in 1932 and died at home in Bath of Pulmonary Fibrosis, a rare and little-understood disease of the lungs, on the 28th October, 2014. He is very deeply missed.
Jonathan Stoughton (tenor) Praised for his “beautiful, free, bronzed tone” and “arresting voice of real power”, British tenor Jonathan Stoughton trained at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio. Shortly after completing his studies, Jonathan Stoughton made his Glyndebourne on Tour début in the role of Steva Jenůfa and has since been engaged by English National Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Raymond Gubbay Ltd and Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. Roles have included Tamino Die Zauberflöte, Pinkerton Madama Butterfly, Lensky Eugene Onegin, The Big Prisoner From the House of the Dead, Florestan Fidelio, Max Der Freischütz, Pollione Norma, Vitellozzo Lucrezia Borgia, the title role in Otello and Walther von Stolzing Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He made his début in the role of Radames Aida in a new production at the Royal Albert Hall, appeared as Don José Carmen under Charles Hazlewood at Glastonbury Abbey and returned to English National Opera to sing the role of Maintop Billy Budd.
As an oratorio and concert soloist Jonathan Stoughton has performed in The Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, St John’s Smith Square, The Barbican Centre, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and The Echo Arena, Liverpool. His repertoire includes Beethoven Ninth Symphony, Puccini Messa di Gloria, Dvorak Stabat Mater, Verdi Requiem and Elgar Dream of Gerontius. Jonathan Stoughton made his role début as Siegfried Götterdämmerung under Anthony Negus at Longborough Festival Opera for which he received the inaugural Robert and Pat LeFever Prize which will be awarded annually. He was also a prize-winner in the inaugural Wagner Society Competition. He recently appeared as Bacchus Ariadne auf Naxos at West Green House Opera, Don José for Alden Biesen Zomeropera, Prince Rusalka for Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn, Florestan Fidelio for Dorset Opera, Adolar in Weber’s Euryanthe with Chelsea Opera Group, and Alwa (Jimmy) American Lulu directed by John Fulljames in a co-production for Scottish Opera and The Opera Group at The Young Vic Theatre and at the Bregenz and Edinburgh International Festivals. His recent concert engagements include the Verdi Requiem, Beethoven Ninth Symphony, and Mahler Symphony Number 8.
gavin carr (baritone) Gavin Carr is a celebrated conductor and baritone of international standing, with wide experience in both the opera and choral worlds. Director of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus among others, he regularly conducts workshops and performances around the world with a host of top choirs and orchestras. Gavin Carr was born in London and studied music and art history at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar in the celebrated Chapel Choir. He then emigrated for five years to Australia, where he began his singing career working with leading ensembles including the Victoria State Opera and Elision Ensemble. Returning to Europe via study in the US, Gavin made his name as a baritone, appearing at many festivals and with major orchestras and choruses worldwide in concert and recital, and recording for BBC and German radio. He has appeared in concert and recital at festivals such as Aldeburgh, Brighton, Dartington, Halle, Ravinia and Sydney and with major orchestras and choruses worldwide, recording for Australian Radio, the BBC and German radio. In Australia with Pipeline Ensemble and the Astra Chamber Music Society he premiered a host of new works and has premiered numerous songs, cantatas and song-cycles, including Michael Finnissy’s Not Afraid and Medea; and Alison Bauld’s Where should Othello Go?, dedicated to him by the composer. In opera he has sung for in the UK (ENO Barber of Seville, Dido and Aeneas, Four Saints in Three Acts), France (Paris Opéra école lyrique Falstaff, Opéra Nomade Lucia di Lammermoor), Ireland (Opera Ireland Giulio Cesare), Australia (Sydney Transfigured Nights Festival Finnissy Shameful Vice) and Italy (Montepulciano Tippett Knot Garden).
paul carr Paul Carr was born in Cornwall in 1961. Paul began composing at the age of 15 receiving his first offer of publication from Cramer Music at 19 for his Dance Pieces, written for the clarinetist Dame Thea King; and in 1986 his Divertimento for Oboe, Bassoon & Piano was published by Theodore Presser in America, proving one of his most popular works to date with two subsequent recordings now available. In the late 1990’s he wrote various scores for British film and television, including, ‘Janice Beard, 45 wpm’, ‘Lady Audley’s Secret’ for ITV, ‘Being Considered’ and the children’s classic, ‘Girls in Love’ for Granada Television. His first large-scale choral work, Requiem for an Angel, was recorded on the Stone Records label in 2010 with Bath Philharmonia and his brother Gavin Carr conducting, and
Paul Carr, Air for Strings The Air for Strings was composed on the beautiful island of Mallorca where Paul Carr lived from 2003 - 2009. It is a heartfelt love-song starting from nothingness, built around a simple, yet passionate theme first heard in the violas and then slowly woven through the orchestra until it reaches its climactic point about half-way though. The music then subsides leaving the theme exposed in a more relaxed setting before arriving at its conclusion in quiet, calm suspension.
taken up by Classic FM as their ‘CD of the Week’ bringing Paul’s music to a much wider audience. A second disc of choral music, including his powerful setting of Seven Last Words from the Cross, was released in 2013 and received its American Premiere this Good Friday in North Carolina. Paul has written a number of concertos for particular performers, including an Oboe Concerto, premiered at the English Music Festival in 2008 by Nicholas Daniel. His new Violin Concerto will be premiered at this year’s English Music Festival on 30th May by Rupert Marshall-Luck, with Bath Philharmonia conducted by Jason Thornton, and his Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, commissioned by Bath Phil and written for Nicholas McCarthy is planned to be premiered in the next year.
John France writes in his article on MusicWeb International “it reveals a mood and a style that approaches the depth of Samuel Barber’s ubiquitous Adagio for Strings. Paul Carr’s work is profound music that is quite capable of deeply moving the listener and bringing a genuine tear to the eye.” The Air for Strings has been recorded twice: on the Dutton Label with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Barry Wordsworth, and more recently on the Stone Records label with Bath Philharmonia conducted by Gavin Carr. The Bath Phil recording is frequently broadcast on Margarita Taylor’s programme Smooth Classics on Classic FM.
Introduction from Jason Thornton, Music Director, Bath Philharmonia Seemingly unconnected and separated by 122 years Mozart’s 40th Symphony and Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde seem worlds apart, and indeed they are. The latter was written before electricity, any form of modern healthcare and right at the start of the precursors for the French Revolution, whilst the former was conceived during the first age of the aeroplane, the commercial car, wireless and the initial gathering of mechanised war clouds in central Europe. Products of their time? Yes, but their content has two
intrinsically linked qualities: both look forward and; both look inward. So the question is, if you look forward don’t you automatically look inward too? Are you not confronting your own mortality and what that means on a plethora of levels? Because both composers are absolute genius’ they confront this internal complexity and mystery with great creative courage and technical verve, translating what we all feel as human beings into an aural experience that is both accessible and relevant to all of us, if we care to hear it. I really encourage you to hear it because I promise you it’s there in absolute abundance!
Mozart, Symphony No.40 Molto Allegro – Andante – Menuetto (Allegretto) – Finale (Allegro Assai) Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde This version of Das Lied von der Erde is for Chamber Orchestra; re-orchestrated by Glen Cortese in 2006 with the input and support of Sir Simon Rattle. 1. “Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde” (“The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow”) The wine beckons in golden goblets but drink not yet; first I’ll sing you a song. The song of sorrow shall ring laughingly in your soul. When the sorrow comes, blasted lie the gardens of the soul, wither and perish joy and singing. Dark is life, dark is death! Master of this house, your cellar is full of golden wine! Here, this lute I call mine. The lute to strike and the glasses to drain, these things go well together. A full goblet of wine at the right time is worth more than all the kingdoms of this earth. Dark is life, dark is death! The heavens are ever blue and the Earth shall stand sure, and blossom in the spring. But you O man, what long life have you? Not a hundred years may you delight in all the rotten baubles of this earth. See down there! In the moonlight, on the graves squats a wild ghostly shape; an ape it is! Hear you his howl go out in the sweet fragrance of life. Now! Drink the wine! Now it is time comrades. Drain your golden goblets to the last. Dark is life, dark is death!
2. “Der Einsame im Herbst” (“The Solitary One in Autumn”) Autumn fog creeps bluishly over the lake. Every blade of grass stands frosted. As though an artist had jade-dust over the fine flowers strewn. The sweet fragrance of flower has passed; A cold wind bows their stems low. Soon will the wilted, golden petals of lotus flowers upon the water float. My heart is tired. My little lamp expires with a crackle, minding me to sleep. I come to you, trusted resting place. Yes, give me rest, I have need of refreshment! I weep often in my loneliness. Autumn in my heart lingers too long. Sun of love, will you no longer shine to gently dry up my bitter tears? 3. “Von der Jugend” (“Youth”) In the middle of the little pond stands a pavilion of green and white porcelain. Like the back of a tiger arches the jade bridge over to the pavilion.
Friends sit in the little house well dressed, drinking, chatting. some writing verses. Their silk sleeves glide backwards, their silk caps rest gaily at the napes of their necks. On the small pond’s still surface, everything shows whimsical in mirror image. Everything stands on its head in the pavilion of green and white porcelain. Like a half-moon is the bridge its arch upturned. Friends well dressed, drinking, chatting 4. “Von der Schönheit” (“Beauty”) Young girls picking flowers, Picking lotus flowers at the riverbank. Amid bushes and leaves they sit, gathering flowers in their laps and calling one another in raillery. Golden sun plays about their form reflecting them in the clear water. The sun reflects back their slender limbs, their sweet eyes, and the breeze teasing up the warp of their sleeves, directs the magic of perfume through the air. O see, what a tumult of handsome boys there on the shore on their spirited horses. Yonder shining like the sun’s rays between the branches of green willows trot along the bold companions. The horse of one neighs happily on and shies and rushes there, hooves shaking down blooms, grass, trampling wildly the fallen flowers. Hei! How frenzied his mane flutters, and hotly steam his nostrils! Golden sun plays about their form reflecting them in the clear water. And the most beautiful of the maidens sends long looks adoring at him. Her proud pose is but a pretense; in the flash of her big eyes, in the darkness of her ardent gaze beats longingly her burning heart 5. “Der Trunkene im Frühling” (“The Drunkard in Spring”) If life is but a dream, why work and worry? I drink until I no more can, the whole, blessed day! And if I can drink no more as throat and soul are full, then I stagger to my door and sleep wonderfully!
What do I hear on waking? Hark! A bird sings in the tree. I ask him if it’s spring already; to me it’s as if I’m in a dream. The bird chirps Yes! The spring is here, it came overnight! From deep wonderment I listen; the bird sings and laughs! I fill my cup anew and drink it to the bottom and sing until the moon shines in the black firmament! And if I can not sing, then I fall asleep again. What to me is spring? Let me be drunk! 6. “Der Abschied” (“The Farewell”) The sun departs behind the mountains. In all the valleys the evening descends with its shadow, full cooling. O look! Like a silver boat sails the moon in the watery blue heaven. I sense the fine breeze stirring behind the dark pines. The brook sings out clear through the darkness. The flowers pale in the twilight. The earth breathes, in full rest and sleep. All longing now becomes a dream. Weary men traipse homeward to sleep; forgotten happiness and youth to rediscover. The birds roost silent in their branches. The world falls asleep. It blows coolly in the shadows of my pines. I stand here and wait for my friend; I wait to bid him a last farewell. I yearn, my friend, at your side to enjoy the beauty of this evening. Where are you? You leave me long alone! I walk up and down with my lute on paths swelling with soft grass. O beauty! O eternal loving-and-life-bedrunken world! He dismounted and handed him the drink of Farewells. He asked him where he would go and why must it be. He spoke, his voice was quiet. Ah my friend, Fortune was not kind to me in this world! Where do I go? I go, I wander in the mountains. I seek peace for my lonely heart. I wander homeward, to my abode! I’ll never wander far. Still is my heart, awaiting its hour. The dear earth everywhere blossoms in spring and grows green anew! Everywhere and forever blue is the horizon! Forever ... Forever
BATH PHILHARMONIA FRIENDS Mr Martin Bell OBE Mrs Diana Bourdon Smith Mrs Shiena Bowen Mrs Joanna Cain Mr Guy & Mrs Jules Channer Mr G Collett Mr Antony Corfe Mr Graham & Mrs Marilyn Cox Mrs Kate Elston Mr Philip & Mrs Marie Ennis Mr & Mrs P Franklyn Mr & Mrs J Furber Mr Tony Garrett Mr Peter Goodden Ms Caroline Gosling Mr David Greenwood Mr Philip Harris Sir Robert & Lady Deborah Hill Mr Gerry & Mrs Marina Hoddinott
Mr Peter Ives & Miss Pat Oakley Mr Robin & Mrs Henny John Mrs Jean King Ms Judy Kinsman Mr Neville D Lintern Mr & Mrs W Mathias Mr Andrew & Mrs Jinny Matters Mrs Rosemary Munro Mr Sam Priestman Mrs Janet Pitt Mr Mike & Mrs Fran Ralli Mrs Teresa Robinson Ms Corinna Sargood & Mr Richard Wallace S Sawyer Mr Alan & Mrs Judy Singleton Mr John & Mrs Marianne Webb Mr Robert & Mrs Molly Worlidge Mr Paul & Mrs Elizabeth Whitehouse
BATH PHILHARMONIA PATRONS Mr Peter & Mrs Liz Ash Mr Alasdair Campbell Dr Marianna Clark Mr Peter Clegg Mr Rupert Cooper & Ms Hilary Shekleton Mr & Mrs Martin Davis Mr Michael & Mrs Anne Davis Mr Gavin Douglas Mr Maurice & Mrs Anne Dixson Mr Roger & Mrs Mandy Eggleton Mr Andrew Fletcher Miss Jane Glaser Mr Steve & Mrs Fiona Gourley Mr Peter Gunning
BATH PHILHARMONIA PRINCIPAL PARTNERS Mr Robert & Mrs Rebecca Derry-Evans Mrs Elaine Marson Mr Andrew & Mrs Katherine Mortimer Mr Graham & Mrs Bridget Wakefield
BATH PHILHARMONIA BENEFACTORS Mr Ian Hay & Mrs Morny Davidson Mrs Margaret Roper Mrs Jennifer Skellett
Mr Roy & Mrs Maureen Hatch Mr Peter Holland Mrs Sue Howell Mrs Joy Isaac Mrs Gladys Macrae Ms Bel Mooney Mr Peter Morrison Ms Jadis Norman Mr Robert & Mrs Barbara Tan Mr Richard & Mrs Margaret Turner Mr Richard & Mrs Teresa Wharton Mr Nigel Whiskin Mrs Jeannie Willis Capt Brian Woodford
BATH PHILHARMONIA LIFE PATRONS Mr Tony Doughty Mr Denis & Mrs Tor Gamberoni Rear Admiral & Mrs Austin Lockyer Mr Rod & Mrs Karin Morgan Ms Jill Rowe Mrs Joanna Wiesner MBE
TRUSTS The Roper Family Charitable Trust The Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust The Brewster Maude Charitable Trust The Oldham Foundation
BATH PHILHARMONIA
Player’s { { List LEADER Sophie Langdon
VIOLIN I Rosie Wainwright Matt Everett Claire Parkin Felicity BroomeSkelton Gisele Boll Violin II Gill Austin Lisa Betteridge David Williams Alison Balfour-Paul Katy Rowe Mario Basilisco Viola Emma Sheppard Mike Briggs Virginia Slater Rachel Calaminus Cello Miriam Lowbury Erica Simpson Trevor Burley Jonathan Few Bass Martin Henderson Andy Marshall
Flute Harry Winstanley Nicola Summerscales Oboe Alun Darbyshire Jennie-Lee Keetley Clarinet Anna Hashimoto Alastair Logan Bassoon Martin Gatt Rosie Cow Horn Richard Wainwright Matthew Cooke Trumpet Gavin Wells Alex Cooke Trombone Matt Harrison Steve Turton Timpani Jeremy Little Percussion Matt Turner Will Burgess Harp Ruth Faber
TRUSTEES AND STAFF
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jason Thornton
ACTING CHAIR Dr Charles Wiffen
GENERAL MANAGER Simone Homes
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Robert Derry-Evans Tony Howell Clare Jack Andrew Mortimer Richard Munro Mike Ralli Jennifer Skellett
ORCHESTRAL MANAGER Ben Vleminckx STAGE MANAGER Aaron Buckley CONCERT MANAGER Martin Bax MBE