Join us for an evening that moves from bright orchestral drama, through quiet contemplation, to one of the most ambitious symphonies ever written. Enjoy two romantic masterpieces, two contemporary voices, and Beethoven’s groundbreaking Eroica.
The evening opens with Emilie Mayer’s Overture No. 2 in D major. Mayer built a career in Berlin as a composer of large-scale instrumental music and is often known as the female Beethoven. This overture shows why — it is energetic and confidently orchestrated, with strong rhythmic drive and lyrical contrasts,
Gabriel Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine brings a change of mood. Fauré builds a calm atmosphere from long, graceful phrases and subtle shifts of harmony. Lovers of his Requiem will recognise the same tenderness and restraint.
John Rutter’s The Sprig of Thyme is a delightful collection of traditional British and Irish folk songs, beautifully arranged for choir and orchestra. Blending lyrical melodies, gentle nostalgia and lively folk rhythms, the work celebrates the richness of the folk-song tradition. Our performance features a selection of seven movements.
Contemporary American composer Elaine Hagenberg is represented by Splendor, the opening movement of her choral-orchestral work Illuminare. The music begins with a rush of rapid figures in bright D major, which Hagenberg has said were inspired by bald eagles she watched in flight from her studio window. It is a good example of why Hagenberg’s music has become so popular with both choirs and audiences.
After this, the orchestra takes on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, “Eroica”. It dramatically expanded the scale, emotional range and ambition of the symphony. Beethoven is said to have intended it for Napoleon Bonaparte, and to have withdrawn the dedication when Napoleon declared himself Emperor. The Eroica is a journey from struggle to affirmation, and it sounds just as startling live as it must have in 1805.
Event description by organisers.
