worthing theatres
WORThINg SYMPhONY ORChESTRA 2014/15 Season Conductor
John Gibbons Leader
Julian Leaper
Guest soloists
Helena Dix • Jess Gillam Anthony Hewitt • Poom Prommachart Martin James Bartlett • Arta Arnicane Laura van der Heijden • Nicola Benedetti
WORLD CLASS MUSIC ON YOUR DOORSTEP
worthingsymphony.co.uk
WortHiNG SyMPHoNy orcHeStrA HAS BeeN ProviDiNG toP quALity orcHeStrAL coNcertS for ALMoSt A ceNtury. We open the season by celebrating the town’s ‘Catching the Wave’ commitment to culture and reflecting Worthing’s seaside location. Two great works of the sea frame this concert: Wagner’s intensely dramatic Flying Dutchman Overture and Debussy’s iconic orchestral masterpiece - La Mer. We welcome a number of young BBC Young Musician of the Year soloists including Sussex cellist Laura van der Heijden; Jess Gillam described by Snake Davis as “one of the best saxophonists in the UK” and exciting young pianist Martin James Bartlett – winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014. Former winners of the Sussex International Piano Competition, Arta Arnicane and Poom Prommachart, return with British piano concertos abounding in sweeping romantic melodies, bravura piano writing and dynamic orchestral textures – both glorious pieces I know you will greatly enjoy hearing live in concert. There are great symphonies to savour, including Sibelius’s masterly Fifth Symphony. We invite you to sit back and enjoy the sublime splendour of Bruckner’s Third Symphony – music that offers a haven of spiritual calm in our frenetic 21st century lifestyles. Dvorak’s Fifth Symphony is a sunny and optimistic work unfairly overshadowed by his later symphonies.
I am thrilled that Nicola Benedetti will return at the end of the season to play the Brahms concerto with us. I know this will be a memorable occasion and that tickets will be in great demand so book early to avoid disappointment. Last season we introduced a season ticket that rewards our loyal supporters with a generous discount that is virtually eight concerts for the price of six. Season ticket holders also get the best choice of seats and will be entered in a prize draw for the new Danacord CD of Bruckner’s epic Ninth Symphony, recorded in April when I conducted the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. All our concerts strive to present classical music in an approachable and informative manner with award-winning introductions that heighten the listener’s enjoyment of the music. It is a life-enhancing experience that feeds the soul and enriches the brain cells! For those from outside the locality, an afternoon’s concert in the acoustically superb Assembly Hall can easily be transformed into a refreshing day out by the sea. Worthing has a fine promenade and pier, many excellent restaurants and hotels and good transport links.
John Gibbons PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
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“extraordinary orchestra which should be more widely known. John Gibbons’ conducting was subtle and thoughtful; his introductions allow the audience much insight, and introduce the work in a non patronising and friendly manner.” AuDieNce coMMeNt
John Gibbons has built a formidable reputation for his engaging talks and exciting programming. Everyone is made welcome irrespective of whether this is their first or 100th WSO concert and John’s illuminating introductions offer a more in-depth knowledge and enjoyment of the wonderful music this professional orchestra brings to the audience.
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Sunday 14th September at 2.45pm
SoNGS of tHe SeA The British coastline has inspired composers throughout the ages. Debussy’s orchestral masterpiece La Mer, was sketched in Eastbourne while ancient Cornwall is the setting for Wagner’s epic tale of doomed love. Ken Russell’s famous film about Delius includes a memorable scene with the blind and paralysed composer (Max Adrian) dictating the opening passage to his assistant, Eric Fenby (Christopher Gable), setting a scene of a heather-clad cliff top overlooking the sea. The Flying Dutchman Overture is one of the most exciting sea pieces ever composed while Chausson’s Poeme de l’amour et de la mer is one of the great works for soprano and orchestra.
hELENA DIx Soprano
Richard Wagner
e Flying Dutchman Overture Frederick Delius
Song of Summer Richard Wagner
Tristan und Isolde – Prelude and Liebestod Ernest Chausson
Poeme de l’amour et de la mer Claude Debussy
La Mer
We are delighted to welcome one of the most exciting young Wagnerian singers in the world, Helena Dix. Helena represented Australia in the 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and was nominated as Best Young Singer in The International Opera awards. She won the Nino Sanciolo Prize to study in Italy and the Wagner Society’s Bayreuth Bursary Competition. In 2012 she performed in the Bayreuth Stipendiaten-konzert at the Festspielhaus for members of Wagner’s family and recently sang in Karlsruhe as part of the International Wagner prize. She is one of the eight finalists for the Seattle International Wagner competition to be held in August 2014 and recently made her debut, to great critical acclaim, at the Wexford International Opera festival in the title role of Cristina Regina di Svezia by Foroni.
helenadix.com Photograph of Helena by Grzegorz Monkiewicz
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Sunday 12th October at 2.45pm
Edvard Grieg
AutuMN DeLiGHt
Holberg Suite
Popular pieces for strings by Grieg, Dvorak and Holst are complemented by the concertino by John Ireland who lived much of his later life across the South Downs in Washington.
Saxophone Concerto
Alexander Glazunov Gustav Holst
St Paul’s Suite
As a woodwind category finalist in BBC Young Musician 2014, Jess Gillam was awarded the prestigious Walter Todd Bursary at the final and has shared top billing with Courtney Pine at a jazz concert in her home town of Ulverston.
John Ireland
Concertino Pastorale Antonin Dvorak
Nocturne
Anthony Hewitt is another native of Ulverston who dazzled us with his recent performance of Malcolm Williamson’s Second Piano Concerto. He returns with another romantic piano concerto by Doreen Carwithen, a pioneering female composer for Rank films in the 1940s and 1950s whose accessible style has won her many new fans. The piano concerto was premiered at the 1952 Henry Wood Proms to great acclaim.
Doreen Carwithen
Piano Concerto
JESS gILLAM
Saxophone ANThONY hEWITT
Piano jessgillamsax.co.uk Photograph of Jess by Darren Gillam
Sunday 19th October at 7.30pm
WORThINg SYMPhONY ORChESTRA at the MALCOLM ARNOLD FESTIvAL Derngate Theatre • Northampton
JULIAN BLISS
Clarinet
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Sunday 9th November at 2.45pm
Ernest Farrar
reMeMBrANce SuNDAy
Heroic Elegy
The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius wrote his Fifth Symphony in the second year of the Great War. Recognised as one of the greatest works of the 20th century, Sibelius called it “an expression of its creator’s great optimism, gained through suffering”.
Piano Concerto
Sir Arthur Bliss was an officer who survived the Battle of the Somme. His Piano Concerto is a magnificent work which combines the romanticism of Rachmaninov with the jazzy brilliance of Gershwin.
Jean Sibelius
Sir Arthur Bliss
Samuel Barber
Adagio for Strings Symphony No.5
Ernest Farrar was killed in the final months of the Great War while Samuel Barber’s famous Adagio for Strings has been used at many events commemorating the war. Winner of the 2nd Sussex International Piano Competition, Poom Prommachart, gave an exquisite performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto last season and has since recorded a debut solo recital for Champs Hill Records.
pprommachart.com
POOM PROMMAChART Piano
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Sunday4th 15thJanuary February at 2.45pm Sunday at 2.45pm
r voMANtic ieNNeSe vALeNtiNeS
NeW yeAr ceLeBrAtioNS
A traditional mix of Viennese waltzes, polkas and marches including the Nordseebilder Waltzes (North Sea Pictures).
MARTIN JAMES BARTLETT
Piano
We are delighted to welcome the winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, Martin James Bartlett, who will play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.20 with its tonal links to the operas Don Giovanni and Idomeneo. It includes one of one of the most appealing of all his slow movements – a delicate romanze in Bb major. Martin, from Hornchurch, Essex is studying for A levels in music and physics and has been awarded full scholarships to three London conservatoires. The 17-year-old was named as the winner at Usher Hall in Edinburgh, where he performed Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kirill Karabits, in front of a live audience.
martinjamesbartlett.com
“Martin lives and breathes music. he is a powerful and natural musician and his love for music is serious enough to carry him through the challenges ahead.” Nicola Benedetti
Johann Strauss II
Selection of waltzes, marches and polkas Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No.20
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Sunday 15th February at 2.45pm
roMANtic vALeNtiNeS Top-notch Tchaikovsky dominates a programme of powerful passion, drama and excitement. Arta Arnicane, winner of the first Sussex International Piano Competition, returns to perform William Alwyn’s Second Piano Concerto - a work full of powerful romantic melodies and great exuberance, described by some as Alwyn’s homage to Rachmaninov! It was due to be premiered at the 1960 Proms but the soloist suffered paralysis in his right arm shortly before the premiere which was then cancelled.
artaarnicane.com Photograph of Arta by Andreas Zihler
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky pprommachart.com
Romeo and Juliet William Alwyn
Piano Concerto No.2 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Rose Adagio - Sleeping Beauty Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No.5
ARTA ARNICANE
Piano
Arta’s wonderful musicianship has already been demonstrated in her performances for WSO of Bartok’s Third Piano Concerto and Dohnanyi’s spirited Variations on a Nursery Theme. Tchaikovsky’s symphonies are popular cornerstones of the repertoire. The Fifth Symphony is filled with a plethora of intoxicating melodies that build to one of the supreme uplifting endings.
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LAURA vAN DER hEIJDEN
Cello
Sunday 8th March at 2.45pm
SPriNG AWAkeNiNGS Laura van der Heijden, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012, returns with Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto, a powerful work of great intensity and passion. Glinka’s famous overture opens the concert in scintillating fashion while the true majesty of a symphony orchestra can be enjoyed in one of Bruckner’s most popular symphonies. This music is a blend of lyrical melodies, rich orchestral sonorities and deeply-felt spirituality. John Gibbons is a passionate advocate of the music of Bruckner and his new recording of Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra is released at the end of 2014 on the Danacord label.
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka
Ruslan & Ludmilla Overture
lauravanderheijden.org Photograph of Laura by Sam Tench
Anton Bruckner
“e beauty of Laura van der heijden’s playing lies in the fact that she has a wonderful expressivity, but never, ever overdoes it.”
Symphony No.3
Jane Shuttleworth, Bachtrack
Dmitri Shostakovich
Cello Concerto No.1
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3rD SuSSex iNterNAtioNAL PiANo coMPetitioN Sunday 19th April at 2.45pm
gRAND FINAL e grand final of the piano competition features the three finalists performing three major piano concertos with Worthing Symphony Orchestra, under its principal conductor John gibbons. The winner receives a cash prize, again sponsored by the Bowerman Trust, a CD demo recording session and worldwide performance opportunities.
SEMI-FINAL Six of the finest pianists chosen from the 24 quarter-finalists, perform a forty-five minute piano recital each, for a place in the grand final. This is a great opportunity to witness future, star pianists from around the globe compete across the four days of the competition before an international jury of pianists, musicians, conductors, agents and critics.
“We have created a competition with integrity and talent at its core.” John Gibbons
Jessica Zhu won the audience prize at the first Sussex international Piano competition for her performance of Liszt’s first piano concerto.
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Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th April
QUARTER FINALS Daily from 11.30am – circa 7.30pm Friday 17th April
SEMI-FINAL Aernoon session 1.30pm to 4.30pm • Evening session 6pm to circa 9.30pm
PASt WiNNerS Arta Arnicane and Poom Prommachart
Poom triumphed in 2013 with his performance of rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3
Arta won in 2010 with her performance of Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3
Photograph of Poom and Arta Ian Temple Photography iantemplephotography.co.uk
A M E M B E R O F T h E A L I N k - A R g E R I C h F O U N DAT I O N
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Sunday 7th June at 2.45pm
BrAHMS & BeNeDetti Following her previous sold-out performances, Nicola Benedetti returns to play the Brahms concerto - one of the undoubted masterpieces of the violin repertoire with its soaring melodic lines, exquisite oboe solo in the slow movement and a dancing finale infused with the fire of Hungarian dances. Otto Nicolai’s popular Shakespearean overture is a classic romantic opera overture – tuneful, sprightly and bucolic. Dvorak’s Fifth Symphony is a delightful work full of lilting Czech dance rhythms and melting melodies embedded in a serene pastoral atmosphere. The work ends with one of Dvorak’s greatest finales with brilliant fanfares for trumpets and trombones.
Otto Nicolai
e Merry Wives of Windsor Overture Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No.5 in F major Johannes Brahms
Violin Concerto in D major
nicolabenedetti.co.uk Photograph of Nicola by Simon Fuller
NICOLA BENEDETTI Violin
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WortHiNG SyMPHoNy Society A common love of classical music unites members of Worthing Symphony Society, which is the support organisation for Worthing Symphony Orchestra. Through donations and memberships, the society funds concerts throughout the season and provides members with an array of exclusive benefits including reduced ticket rates, priority booking and earliest choice of seats, newsletters filled with society business, news and reviews, opportunities to attend rehearsals and meet the orchestra, exclusive social events, free entry to Worthing Music Festival advanced piano classes, as well as opportunities to meet like-minded music lovers. The society gives members the chance to attend exclusive events, including talks and ‘meet the conductor’ lunches.
Worthing Symphony Society supports the Sussex International Piano Competition and also stages interview recitals which offer members the chance to learn more about performers and music, through a mixture of performance and conversation.
HoW to JoiN A basic annual subscription to join the society starts at just £10, although we hope supporters of the orchestra will also consider adding a donation. As a registered charity the society can claim Gift Aid on all donations and sponsorship from supporters who are UK tax payers. Application forms are available to download at the WSO website, along with further information about the society and orchestra.
worthingsymphony.co.uk Email enquiries to: worthingsymphonysociety@gmail.com
Worthing Symphony Society Town Hall • Chapel Road Worthing • BN11 1HA
President: NICOLA BENEDETTI Chairman: EDDIE HURCOMBE Treasurer: JOHN GANDER
Registered Charity No. 286177
Secretary & Membership: WENDY DOWSE
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WORThINg SYMPhONY ORChESTRA Under the leadership of conductor John Gibbons, Worthing Symphony Orchestra has continued to attract large audiences and some of the UK’s best known soloists to its home at the Assembly Hall, Worthing.
REhEARSALS November 2013
WSO has been part of the town’s music scene since 1926. Widely regarded as one of the finest professional orchestras in the south of England, WSO presents an annual season of concerts under their principal conductor, John Gibbons, who took up his position at the start of the 1997-8 season. Under his leadership the orchestra has continued to thrive with increasing audiences and a growing national reputation for the orchestra’s quality of sound and performance. WSO programmes mix popular works with neglected gems, particularly by twentieth century British composers. In the last decade the orchestra has performed music by Gerald Finzi, John Ireland, William Walton, William Alwyn and Arthur Bliss as well as works by contemporary composers such as David Matthews, Paul Carr and Nigel Hess. The orchestra is financially supported by Worthing Borough Council and Worthing Symphony Society. worthingsymphony.co.uk @WSOSussex Facebook.com/worthingsymphonyorchestra
ASSEMBLY hALL The Assembly Hall, has perhaps the finest acoustics in the country for classical music. It has long been recognised by the sound engineers of BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night and musicians enjoy working together in its special ambience. The Assembly Hall is a versatile, multi-purpose venue that has all the facilities required to host a variety of entertainment events, from ballroom dancing to pop and rock concerts. There is ample free parking immediately adjacent to the venue with the railway station and town centre just a short walk away.
worthingtheatres.co.uk
our NeW SeASoN ticket offerS GreAt SAviNGS AcroSS ALL eiGHt coNcertS Seating areas
Price
Season ticket
Saving
Premium seats - area A
£23.50
£135
£53
Standard seats - area B Students and under 16s
£17.50 £6
£99 £30
£41 £18
Worthing Symphony Society members save £2 off the cost of a season ticket.
How to Book Online at worthingtheatres.co.uk By phone 01903 206 206 Between 9.30am and 8pm Monday to Saturday and 11am – 8pm on Sunday and bank holidays.
In person at the Assembly Hall from 45 minutes before the performance otherwise at the Connaught or Pavilion theatres. Advance bookings include a £2 admin charge. Fees include postage and apply once per booking. Tickets booked within four working days of an event are held by Worthing Theatres and are available from the box office from one hour prior to performance. Payment is accepted by cash, cheques payable to Worthing Theatres, credit and debit cards (excluding American Express). Tickets will not be reserved without payment, with the exception of group bookings. We reserve the right to suspend reservations where necessary. Tickets cannot be exchanged on the day or after an event has taken place but may be exchanged in advance at our box offices for a small charge. Refunds are only available if a show is cancelled by Worthing Theatres. Terms and conditions apply.
By road and rail Worthing Assembly Hall is easily accessible by road. To use GPS navigation systems, enter – BN11 1HQ. Worthing Central is well connected by rail to Southampton, Brighton, Bristol and Cardiff. A day return from London costs under £30 and takes about an hour and a quarter.
Free parking and access Free parking is available for Sunday concerts on-street and at the Civic Centre car park, adjacent to the Assembly Hall. The Assembly Hall has wheelchair access, a loop system and accessible toilets. Guide and hearing dogs are permitted. It is usually possible to arrange a combination of wheelchair and standard seating to allow patrons to sit together. Please notify us of your requirements when booking.
worthing theatres • 01903 206 206 • worthingtheatres.co.uk
Come and enjoy e Denton with unrivalled sea views. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and aernoon tea.
Enjoy a pre-concert lunch choosing from our menu of traditional British roasts.
01903 218 250 • worthingtheatres.co.uk PAviLioN tHeAtre • MAriNe PArADe • WortHiNG • BN11 3Px Published May 2014