Admission to all concerts is usually free; a collection is taken in aid of the charities nominated. After deductions of concert expenses, all moneys will go to the named charity.
Details of soloists and charities will be show as soon as they are available
Please note that all programmes, dates and venues are subject to change
Future Concert Dates for 2012/13
Date
Venue
Details
June 9th 2012
Holy Innocents, Fallowfield
Hansel and Gretel Overture - Humperdinck Clarinet Concerto - Weber Lyric Suite - Grieg Symphony No. 1 - Martinu
In this concert the Beethoven orchestra present an interesting mixture from the familiar Hansel and Gretel Overture to the much less well-known Martinu Symphony no. 1.
Audiences may well know the Prayer Song that opens and concludes the overture. In the middle section are dance-like themes taken from the opera itself. Although occasionally performed in this country, the opera is frequently performed in German speaking countries at Christmas. However the natural warmth of the Weber Clarinet Concerto that follows will bring us back to Summer. Both of Weber’s concertos and his Concertino were all dedicated to the virtuoso clarinetist Heinrich Baermann. The concerto is in classical format but more than hints at romantic drama in the use of dramatic virtuoso solo passages. The composer lived through and in his own work demonstrated the shift from classical to romantic forms. Following this, the Grieg Lyric Suite embodies the consolidation of romantic style in the late nineteenth century. The composer selected four pieces from his collection of Lyric Pieces for piano; the Shepherd Boy, Walking Tune, March of the Dwarves and Nocturne.
Bohuslav Martinu is not a well-known name in concert programmes and yet his music is very accessible and full of colour. He is often compared with Bartok in part because they shared a liking for collecting and using folk music in their own works. This symphony, the first of six, was written on his arrival in America after fleeing Europe in 1940.
