Fortissimo - December 2014

More music for less!

RPO friends’ newsletter – December 2014

W

elcome

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is delighted to bring you its latest news, including highlights of recent tours, education projects and more. Please see below for a reminder about the Orchestra’s upcoming series of captivating concerts at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall from January–June 2015, featuring a host of critically acclaimed artists and conductors (full details can be found in the enclosed brochure). RPO friends save 50% on tickets – we look forward to seeing you at an RPO concert soon!

Charles Dutoit conducts Duke Bluebeard’s Castle

Pinchas Zukerman performs Elgar’s Violin Concerto

Tuesday 27th January 2015, 7.30pm

Tuesday 14th April 2015, 7.30pm

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Charles Dutoit, who is renowned for his impressive interpretations of modern repertoire, conducts a 20thcentury operatic masterpiece: Bartók's Duke Bluebeard's Castle – a haunting and intriguing tale of a duke whose dark secrets, which lie behind seven locked doors of his dark castle, are gradually unveiled by his new wife.

Following the magnificent RPO concert of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with Canada’s National Art Centre Orchestra on 27th October 2014, the phenomenal soloist Pinchas Zukerman returns to the Royal Festival Hall to perform Elgar’s Violin Concerto, a work of great lyricism and power, and of which Zukerman’s masterful interpretation is celebrated.

Tadaaki Otaka conducts Belshazzar's Feast

Thomas Dausgaard conducts The Great Symphony

Wednesday 6th May 2015, 7.30pm

Tuesday 9th June 2015, 7.30pm

World-renowned conductor Tadaaki Otaka conducts William Walton's masterpiece Belshazzar's Feast, which tells the story of Belshazzar, the Babylonian king who commits sacrilege alongside the Jews who are in exile in Babylon. The Orchestra is also joined by the outstanding The Bach Choir and mesmerising bass-baritone Neal Davies.

Join internationally acclaimed conductor Thomas Dausgaard for a sublime performance of Schubert's C major Symphony, ‘The Great’, which reveals the composer at the peak of his powers, unfolding an array of wonderful melodies. Plus, the outstanding pianist Natasha Paremski will perform Brahms' dramatic Piano Concerto No.1.

RPO friends’ benefits – at a glance!

- Half-price tickets to RPO ‘own-promotion’ concerts in London (up to two tickets per concert) - Priority ticket allocation and dedicated booking line - FREE passes to RPO ‘own-promotion’ rehearsals in London (two per rehearsal; please contact us to book) - 10% off house wine and the tea/coffee & cake deal at Cadogan Hall (please show your friends’ card at the bar) - Discounted CDs RPO friends save 50% on tickets. Visit www.rpo.co.uk/friends, phone 020 7608 8855 (M–F, 10–6) or email friends@rpo.co.uk.

Chian Lim – Tutti Viola How did you become involved with the RPO? After leaving the Royal College of Music, I went back to Singapore to fulfil my National Service in the army. I then returned to London to work as a freelance musician, before becoming a member of the RPO in January 2014.

What inspired you to become a musician as a child?

It was my Dad – he used to listen to the classical music radio station in Singapore every day when I was growing up. Belonging to the youth orchestra there as a teenager also inspired me to become a professional musician.

Who have you enjoyed working with the most whilst in the RPO? Charles Dutoit, our Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, and soloists like Martha Argerich and Radu Lupu. I love the sincerity of their music-making.

What has been the most valuable piece of advice you have been given in relation to music?

I think the phrase ‘If you make a mistake in performance, forgive yourself immediately’ is very good advice.

What do you listen to in your spare time?

I often have music on during the day, whether it’s whilst I’m travelling or cooking or having a rare spare moment. It could be anything from Rameau to Radiohead.

RPO Christmas CDs John Rutter – The Colours of Christmas A collection of the greatest Christmas carols written

by John Rutter, a composer/conductor whose music has, for many, been greatly associated with Christmas. The special festive CD features The Bach Choir and is conducted by Rutter himself.

Order now! Just £10 for RPO friends (R.R.P. £12).

The Nutcracker Set one snowy Christmas Eve, the evocative score of Tchaikovsky's magical ballet charmingly brings to life the fantasy world of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince.

Highlights include Waltz of the Flowers and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Just £10 for RPO friends (2 CD set, R.R.P. £12).

Christmas Classics All your festive favourites on one CD! Tracks include: Let It Snow, Mary's Boy Child, Winter Wonderland, Sussex Carol, A Babe is Born and The Nutcracker Suite, featuring guest vocalists and the Royal Choral Society.

Just £10 for RPO friends (2 CD set, R.R.P. £12).

To order any of these CDs in time for Christmas, please place your order

by Monday 15th December at the latest by calling 020 7608 8837 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm) or emailing cdsales@rpo.co.uk.

RPO Christmas concerts If you haven’t yet booked for one of the RPO’s upcoming Yuletide concerts, there are a few last seats remaining, on which RPO friends save 50%!

Forthcoming festive highlights include: John Rutter’s Christmas Celebration on Thursday 11th December, 3pm & 7.30pm at the Royal Albert Hall, Swinging Sixties at Christmas on Wednesday 17th December, 7.30pm, and Christmas Cracker on Saturday 20th December, 3pm & 7.30pm – both at Cadogan Hall. Book now to avoid disappointment!

RPO friends save 50% on tickets. Visit www.rpo.co.uk/friends, phone 020 7608 8855 (M–F, 10–6) or email friends@rpo.co.uk.

RPO resound Sophie Plumb (Community and Education Coordinator) tells us about RPO resound’s recent project called ‘ConneXXions’: “RPO resound joined forces with the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Ottawa (NACO) to mark the centenary of World War I. On 28th October (the morning after the RPO’s concert with NACO at the Royal Festival Hall), two youth ensembles – one from the UK and the other from Canada – joined together through a live high-definition internet relay to perform their brand-new compositions to each other.

“In the UK, workshop leader Tim Steiner led Brent Youth Concert Band (pictured right and below) in creating a new piece, inspired by the music of Elgar (in particular, Nimrod from ‘Enigma’ Variations and Pomp and Circumstance Marches) and also by the themes of resilience and strength during times of great adversity, which they performed at the Royal College of Music. Across the Atlantic, renowned Canadian composer Abigail Richardson worked alongside the Colonel By Secondary School Band to create their piece, inspired by the story of one of the band members’ own grandfather’s experience on the front line during the Great War. “Not only were both ensembles able to listen to each other perform their new works, they were also treated to a ‘Q&A’ session with and a world premiere performance by virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. The memories of this very special project will no doubt remain with the young people involved for many years to come.”

If you would like to watch these performances online, please visit www.nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra/event/9102.

FREE rehearsal passes RPO friends have exclusive access to rehearsals of all RPO ‘own-promotion’ concerts in London. Usually held between 3–6pm on the day of the concert, this is an excellent (not to mention FREE!) opportunity to see the Orchestra up close and to gain further insight into its performances. Please contact the RPO office to book your place!

News & Moves The Orchestra warmly welcomes Christopher West (No.2 Double Bass) this December and says a very sad goodbye to Russell Gilbert (First Violin), who has recently retired. Russell joined the RPO in 1989; his dedication and fine playing will be greatly missed by us all. We wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement.

The RPO office welcomes Rebecca Leshures as our new Marketing Volunteer. Rebecca, a pianist, recently moved to London from New York City to further her career in arts administration.

Thank you very much to John Bowker who has now finished his work experience here; we wish him all the best for the future.

Symphonic Rock 2015 Don’t miss the RPO’s epic Symphonic Rock show on Friday 1st May 2015, 7.30pm, held within the awe-inspiring surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall. Including hits by: The Verve, Coldplay, Adele, Elbow, U2, Procol Harum, Survivor, Bon Jovi, Queen and Led Zeppelin!

New for 2015: A special tribute to The Beatles' No.1 hits, including All You Need Is Love, Let It Be, Help! and Penny Lane.

Tickets: £58.33–£16.18 (before discounts and booking fees).

RPO friends save 50% on tickets. Visit www.rpo.co.uk/friends, phone 020 7608 8855 (M–F, 10–6) or email friends@rpo.co.uk.

RPO on Tour Rosi Callery (Tours and Special Projects Assistant) brings us the recent highlights: “This autumn, the RPO toured Europe with Charles Dutoit. September saw the continuation of our residency in the beautiful Montreux, on Lake Geneva. Here, the Orchestra performed with exquisite soloists Radu Lupu (piano) and James Ehnes (violin), who performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 and Saint-Saens’ Violin Concerto No.3, respectively. The RPO then performed Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5 and Dvořák’s Symphony No.9 during a week-long tour of Switzerland, Italy and Austria, which included a performance at the opening of the new concert hall Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland, which is really quite spectacular! (pictured right).

“Next up is our film music tour to Russia, for which we are now deep in preparations.”

BBC Children in Need 2014 The RPO was delighted to perform in the official BBC Children In Need 2014 single, a cover version of Avicii's Wake Me Up. The chart-topping hit was sung by choirmaster Gareth Malone's All Star Choir, which included Great British Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc, actress Linda Robson, Countryfile host John Craven and ex-footballer Fabrice Muamba.

BBC Children in Need 2014 has, so far, raised over £30million to help disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. You can still purchase Wake Me Up online and in-store. All proceeds go to supporting BBC Children in Need 2014.

Make your friend an RPO Friend this Christmas!

An RPO friends membership is the perfect gift for someone special this Christmas. Why not take this opportunity to share all the benefits that you receive as an RPO friend with your nearest and dearest? We will send you a FREE RPO CD to say thank you for helping us spread the word!

To purchase a gift membership (starting from just £35) in time for it to be delivered by Christmas, please contact us on 020 7608 8855 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm) or at friends@rpo.co.uk by Monday 15th December at the latest.

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of fortissimo and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra! If you have booked for one of our upcoming festive shows this December, then we very much look forward to seeing you there. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you at an RPO concert during 2015!

With best wishes, Jo Thomson (Friends’ & Groups’ Manager) and the rest of the RPO marketing team.

Chris Evans Rosalie Carter Natasha Allery Rebecca Leshures Doran Crowhurst Director of Press & Regional Marketing Marketing Assistant Marketing Volunteer Programme Editor Marketing Co-ordinator RPO friends save 50% on tickets. Visit www.rpo.co.uk/friends, phone 020 7608 8855 (M–F, 10–6) or email friends@rpo.co.uk.