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The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra presents Works by English Composers
The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra presents under the Music Direction of its Artistic Director Alkis Baltas and soloist the baritone Ivan Ludlow, the programme “Works by English Composers” including works by E. Elgar, R. V. Williams, H. Purcell, B. Britten and Arn. Malcolm. Three evening concerts which start at 8:30pm will take place on Wednesday 14 March 2012 at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia (Tel. 22 313010), on Thursday 15 March 2012 at the Rialto Theatre, Limassol (Tel.. 77777745) and on Friday 16 March 2012 at the Markideion Theatre, Paphos (Tel. 26 932571). Tickets are available at the Theatres’ box office at €12 and €7 (18- 26 years old and pensioners). Free entrance for children and students under 18 years old. Information: 22 463144 and www.cyso.org.cy .
THE SOLOIST:
Born in London, Ivan Ludlow attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, winning the prestigious Rose Bowl, and the National Opera Studio. While studying he made his operatic debut at the Battignano Festival, in Italy followed by the title role in Onegin at the Buxton Festival. Ivan regularly works with conductors such as Christoph Rousset, Gustav Kuhn, Jan Latham Koenig, Adam Fischer, Jean-Yves Ossonce, Franck Ollu and Christoph Ullrich Meyer, and with some of the most exciting directors on the operatic scene. A frequent recitalist and oratorio singer, Ivan has sung in several European cities as well as the United States. His repertoire ranges from early British lute songs to commissioned works and includes most of the major song cycles and oratorios. Ivan performs regularly with the pianist Daniel Tong and is a founding member of the London Bridge Ensemble. The ensemble's discography includes two discs dedicated to Frank Bridge, one to Schumann and one to be released shortly.Recent engagements include Chaplin Operas by Benedict Mason in Salzburg, The Ring Saga, Jonathan Dove and Graham Vick’s adaptation of Wagner’s Ring, in Porto, Paris, Reims and Luxembourg. He will perform in Lulu and Die Fledermaus at La Monnaie in Brussels, Britten’s War Requiem with the Seattle Symphony, recitals in Belgium, Spain, France and England and concerts with the London Bridge Ensemble.
THE PROGRAMME:
Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Sospiri, Op. 70
Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, Elgar and his wife Alice became devastated by the death of their close friend, Julia Worthington. It was then that Elgar composed a work originally intended for violin and piano and, aware of the subdued mood and the sense of grief and loss evoked by the work, he named it Sospiri (Sighs), eventually arranging it for string orchestra and harp. It was dedicated to his close friend, violinist W. H. Reed, and premiered in Queen’s Hall on 15 August 1914, conducted by Sir Henry Wood.
Edward Elgar: Chanson de Matin, Op. 15, No. 2
In 1897 Elgar sent Evensong, a piece for violin and piano, to the publisher Novello, who renamed it to Chanson de Nuit (Song of the Night). Two years later, Elgar sent another such piece to Novello, which he had composed a decade earlier and which he revised and renamed to Chanson de Matin (Song of the Morning). By its publication in 1901 the composer had produced a number of arrangements, including the orchestral version performed this evening. Its premiere was given together with Chanson de Nuit in a Promenade Concert at Queen’s Hall on 14 September 1901, conducted by Sir Henry Wood.
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Songs of Travel
Originally composed for baritone voice and piano between 1901 and 1907, this cycle of nine songs was drawn by Robert Louis Stevenson’s (1859-1894) poetry collection Songs of Travel. Williams later orchestrated the first, third and eighth song, while his assistant, Roy Douglas, later orchestrated the remaining songs. The last song was not discovered until after the composer’s death, with the manuscript reading: “This little epilogue… should be sung in public only when the whole cycle is performed”. Granting his wish, the premiere of the complete song cycle took place in London on 21 May 1960.
Henry Purcell (1659-1695): The Married Beau, Suite Z. 603 (arr. G. Holst)
Inspired by Part I of Cervantes’ Don Quixote, John Crown (1640-1712) wrote the farcical comedy The curious Impertinent, in which Mr. Lovely, doubting his wife’s fidelity, decides to test her by engaging his friend Polydor to woo her. The play, first performed at Wren’s Drury Lane Theatre in London in April 1694, featured incidental music by Purcell: a French Overture and a set of eight short dances, which constitute the suite also known as The Married Beau.
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Soirées Musicales, Op. 9
Having acquired a position scoring films for a small documentary company in 1935, Britten was soon asked to provide music for the documentary “Men of the Alps”. For this soundtrack, he arranged five pieces by Rossini originally composed for piano, which he later turned into a suite titled Soirées Musicales.
Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006): Four Scottish Dances, Op. 59
Inspired by Scottish folk themes, Arnold composed a set of four dances for the upcoming BBC Light Music Festival in 1957. Apart from the second dance, the melody of which was originally composed by Robert Burns, the dances are based on vibrant original melodies. The untitled dances premiered at the Royal Festival Hall on 8 June 1957, with the composer conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra.
http://www.cyso.org.cy
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