symphony

Programme

Prokofiev

Cinderella: Selection from Ballet Page 10

Bartók

Viola Concerto, op.posth., BB 128 (Serly version) Page 12

Ravel

Daphnis et Chloé: Suites Nos.1 & 2 Page 14

Welcome

Programming for young talented musicians in a large symphonic setting can be a real challenge but my motto has always been, ‘they deserve the very best of the orchestral repertoire to work on and play!’

So here we are. On our menu this evening are three masterpieces by three master composers.

As an opener we present Prokofiev’s reading of the famous Cinderella fairytale with musical highlights following the story in chronological order, showing that good things may happen to nice people too.

Ravel’s colourful scoring of Daphnis et Chloé, the old Greek saga of two foundlings falling in love, will be the second half of the programme, not only reflecting on Greek mythology but certainly one of the best scores written during the buzzing times of Paris some 100 years ago. A love story told in magnificent orchestral colours.

In between these two examples of highest quality composition will be Bartók. It will be an unforgettable experience for the young musicians to play his intriguing Viola Concerto, written in 1945 (his final composition) with Timothy Ridout, who is the number one New Generation Artist and a promising young talent in a long tradition of British viola playing.

It will be an inspirational experience for all the young musicians in the Orchestra and the youthful energy and commitment of all involved promise a fantastic performance for the audience to enjoy.

Jac van Steen Conductor

Jac van Steen Conductor

Since participating in the BBC Conductors Seminar in 1985, Jac van Steen has enjoyed a very busy career conducting the best orchestras in Europe, which included holding the posts of Music Director and Chief Conductor of the National Ballet of The Netherlands, the Orchestras of Bochum, Nuremberg, the Staatskapelle Weimar, The Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra of Dortmund, Musikkollegium Winterthur and Principal Guest Conductor at the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. At present he is Principal Guest Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra and the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

Jac made his debut with Opera North in 2013, as well as with the Volksoper in Vienna. In 2015 he made a very successful debut at Garsington Opera. He returned to Opera North for several productions and developed a yearly relationship with the Volksoper Vienna and bi-yearly appearances for Garsington Opera such as with Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande in 2017 and Smetana’s The Bartered Bride in 2019. In the 2018-19 season he made his debut at the Oslo Opera with two Puccini productions. Jac van Steen visits the UK regularly to conduct British orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, CBSO, Royal Philharmonic and Ulster Orchestra and made his debut in Tokyo with the New Japan Philharmonic and in Kuala Lumpur with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Jac van Steen has participated in numerous recordings for the BBC, as well as live broadcasts of his concerts. There are a substantial number of CD recordings of his work with various orchestras.

Besides his activities as conductor, he is dedicated to teaching and is Professor for Conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague. He also regularly works with the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham's School of Music (Manchester) as well as the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music (London). In May-June 2018 he led the Jette Parker Young Artists showcase as organised by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden London.