Britain's What's On Event Guide
Reading Symphony Orchestra: Russian Spectacular!
Borodin - Prince Igor Overture
Gliere - Harp Concerto (Soloist: Jamaal Kashim)
Tchaikovsky - Theme & Variations from Suite No.3
Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite
Join us for our Russian Spectacular concert on Saturday 16 November 2024! The concert will start with Borodin’s Overture to his opera Prince Igor, about the Prince’s campaign against the invading Polovtsians in medieval Russia. Completed from memory by Glazunov after Borodin’s sudden death in 1887, the overture is a firm favourite full of galloping rhythms, fanfares and beautiful melodies. We’ll then be joined by the winner of our Young Musicians’ Competition 2024, Jamaal Kashim, for Glière’s Harp Concerto. Jamaal (17), has been studying at the Royal College of Music Junior Department for nearly 10 years, and is currently a semi-finalist in this year’s BBC Young Musician Competition. Written in 1938, the Harp Concerto is beautifully melodic and has been compared with the works of Rachmaninov for its sweeping lyricism.
After the interval, we’ll be performing the Theme and Variations (the finale) from Tchaikovsky’s Suite No.3. One of the jewels of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral writing and often performed as a standalone work, a Russian theme is followed by a dozen variations, ending with a dazzling polonaise. The concert will finish with Stravinsky’s Suite from his ballet The Firebird. Originally written for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1911, The Firebird tells of the downfall of an ogre-like figure of evil, Kastchei, who seizes young princesses as captives whilst turning the knights who try to rescue them into stone. The Crown Prince Ivan enlists the Firebird, so called for her beautiful feathers that glitter and flicker like flames, to help destroy Kastchei and free his victims. A solo horn, intoning the score’s most famous tune, announces the joyful arrival of sunlight at the end.
Gliere - Harp Concerto (Soloist: Jamaal Kashim)
Tchaikovsky - Theme & Variations from Suite No.3
Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite
Join us for our Russian Spectacular concert on Saturday 16 November 2024! The concert will start with Borodin’s Overture to his opera Prince Igor, about the Prince’s campaign against the invading Polovtsians in medieval Russia. Completed from memory by Glazunov after Borodin’s sudden death in 1887, the overture is a firm favourite full of galloping rhythms, fanfares and beautiful melodies. We’ll then be joined by the winner of our Young Musicians’ Competition 2024, Jamaal Kashim, for Glière’s Harp Concerto. Jamaal (17), has been studying at the Royal College of Music Junior Department for nearly 10 years, and is currently a semi-finalist in this year’s BBC Young Musician Competition. Written in 1938, the Harp Concerto is beautifully melodic and has been compared with the works of Rachmaninov for its sweeping lyricism.
After the interval, we’ll be performing the Theme and Variations (the finale) from Tchaikovsky’s Suite No.3. One of the jewels of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral writing and often performed as a standalone work, a Russian theme is followed by a dozen variations, ending with a dazzling polonaise. The concert will finish with Stravinsky’s Suite from his ballet The Firebird. Originally written for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1911, The Firebird tells of the downfall of an ogre-like figure of evil, Kastchei, who seizes young princesses as captives whilst turning the knights who try to rescue them into stone. The Crown Prince Ivan enlists the Firebird, so called for her beautiful feathers that glitter and flicker like flames, to help destroy Kastchei and free his victims. A solo horn, intoning the score’s most famous tune, announces the joyful arrival of sunlight at the end.
7:30pm. Adults: £15; students and under-18s: £5
The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road campus, Berkshire RG1 5AQ
Sat 16 November
Website:
www.rso.org.uk/next-concert