CONCERT PROGRAM
Discover Beethoven MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2021 / 6.30pm Melbourne Recital Centre Proudly presented by
Program BEETHOVEN Symphony No.4 (excerpts)
Conductor and presenter Nicholas has always had a strong commitment to music education and community engagement. In 2010 he was awarded the Dame Roma Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to study the LSO’s iconic Discovery program and the use of improvisation in training classical musicians at the Guildhall School of Music.
NICHOLAS BOCHNER After training in Adelaide and London, Nicholas spent 3 years as Artist-in-Residence at the University of Queensland as part of the ensemble Perihelion, forging a strong reputation as an exponent of contemporary music. He joined the MSO as Assistant Principal Cello in 1998. Since then he has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician and recitalist. He has also taught cello and improvisation at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).
In 2016, Nicholas’ considerable experience as an orchestral musician and his passion for communication led him to undertake a fellowship at ANAM where he developed, conducted and presented educational concerts for primary school children. During the fellowship he was mentored by Paul Rissmann, Graham Abbott and the legendary Richard Gill AO. Since then he has presented educational concerts for children and adults for MSO, ANAM and the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. In 2020 he was named the MSO’s Cybec Assistant Conductor for Learning and Engagement. He is also the conductor of the Melbourne University Biomedical Students’ Orchestra. In support of his work as an education presenter, Nicholas has been studying conducting with Benjamin Northey and won a coveted place at the TSO’s 2019 Australian Conducting Academy.
Proudly presented by TarraWarra Estate
Proudly supported by City of Melbourne, and Crown Resorts Foundation and Packer Family Foundation. Nicholas Bochner’s position as MSO Assistant Conductor for Learning and Engagement is supported by the Cybec Foundation.
Glossary Movement A movement is a part of a musical composition or musical form. They are often marked by a brief pause in a performance of the full composition and can also be played separately of the larger work.
Triad A chord consisting of 3 notes stacked on top of each other – a bottom note (the root), the middle note (the third) and the top note (the fifth) – that sound in harmony when played together simultaneously.
Chamber A form of classical music played by a small ensemble, typically with one player to a part. Traditionally written to be performed in an intimate setting, rather than a full-sized concert hall.
Stepwise Melodic motion in which the interval between two consecutive pitches is no more than a step, or where skips are rare.
Quick Facts LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827) Symphony No 4 in B flat, Op.60 Adagio – Allegro vivace Adagio Menuetto (Allegro vivace) – Trio (Un poco meno allegro) Allegro ma non troppo Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony was composed in 1806 – a time of personal and professional turmoil for the composer. The year had begun with the failure of his only opera, Fidelio, which had not found favour in a Vienna still under occupation by Napoleon’s forces. Frustrated by inadequate rehearsal time and dreadful performances of the opera, not to mention a theatre manager whom he distrusted, Beethoven withdrew his score. But rather than go off simply to sulk, Beethoven vented his fury in one of the most astonishing creative bursts of his career. He spent the summer and autumn out of Vienna, enjoying the hospitality of various noble patrons, some of whom had been forced to flee Vienna because of the French occupation. In one of these houses he may have become engaged to one Therese
von Brunsvik. In another, he began work on the Fifth Symphony, the Appassionata Sonata, and the three Rasumovsky Quartets. In another (that of the celebrated Prince Lichnowsky) he quarrelled with his host, who wanted him to play the piano for some French army officers. But in the castle of Count Franz von Oppersdorff in Ober-Glagau he received a commission of 500 florins to compose a new symphony for the Count’s private orchestra. This was to become the Fourth Symphony, even though it was actually begun after the immortal Fifth. Unfortunately for Count Franz, it seems that his philanthropic gesture was not reciprocated in full, as there is no evidence that the Fourth Symphony was ever premiered by his private orchestra. Instead, it emerged for the first time in a marathon all-Beethoven concert in Vienna in March 1807, probably in the palace of Prince Lobkowitz. It was performed alongside Beethoven’s first three symphonies, in a concert which must have strained the concentration of even the most dedicated admirers. Abridged from Martin Buzacott © 2001
PERFECT
PAIRING Ears Wide Open is proudly supported by TarraWarra Estate
FI R S T M OV E M E N T 2018 TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay This wine is a blend of seven different blocks located across the TarraWarra property and is naturally fermented in both barrel and tank. Its varied source perfectly aligns with Beethoven’s first movement, a juxtaposition of sound, starting with a slow, hushed, mysterious introduction that gives way to ‘gaiety itself’. With aromas of grapefruit and lemon zest and underlying notes of cashew nuts, this wine shows an elegant complexity with appealing freshness.
S EC O N D M OV E M E N T 2019 TarraWarra Estate Pinot Noir Made with the same approach as the Reserve wine, this wine evokes the sense of nostalgia infused in the melody and rhythm of Beethoven’s second movement. The Estate Pinot Noir displays lifted raspberry aromas, with a hint of earthiness and subtle oak. The flavours combine full fruit with fine long tannins, finishing with the elegance and finesse that is the hallmark of TarraWarra Pinot Noir.
Receive more than 20% off TarraWarra’s Perfect Pairing pack at www.tarrawarra.com.au/wine/mso-beethoven-4-pack
T H I R D M OV E M E N T 2019 Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier The combination of the three varieties builds a wine with lifted honeysuckle and white flower perfume, fine acidity, great texture and length. The overall effect is a long, savoury wine with floral overtones that mimic the pastoral hints and feelings of nature present in Beethoven’s light and upbeat third movement.
FO U R T H M OV E M E N T 2017 J Block Shiraz A long north-west facing block with clay loam soils, this block has long produced wines with ripe flavours and firm structure. Red fruits ride on the back of the viognier, fine tannins aiding the cause of this medium-bodied Shiraz that pairs perfectly with the comedic wink of Beethoven’s lively and uplifting fourth movement.
Only 1 hour from Melbourne, TarraWarra Estate offers the perfect escape from the city. All our wines are grown and made on our picturesque 400 hectare property, with meticulous care and attention to detail producing exceptional wines. Our hatted restaurant and underground cellar door combine magnificent food, wine and architecture set amidst the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley. Friendly and professional locals complete the experience. Restaurant Open Wednesday – Sunday Cellar Door Open Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 5pm 311 HEALESVILLE – YARRA GLEN ROAD, YARRA GLEN | 03 5957 3510 | restaurant@tarrawarra.com.au
WWW.TARRAWARRA.COM.AU