Born in 1904, the French concert pianist Louise Farrenc spent her early career touring Europe with her flautist husband Aristide. In the 1930s, tired of travelling, they set up a publishing house in Paris, and Louise turned her hand to composition. Her output included three symphonies and two orchestral overtures. Overture no. 1 in E minor is an accomplished and appealing work in the Viennese classical tradition, blending lively string writing with melodic woodwind solos and rich brass colour.
Beethoven’s piano concerto no. 5 is considered by many to be the epitome of musical and technical brilliance in solo concerto form. Donald Francis Tovey encapsulates it thus: “The orchestra is not only symphonic, but is enabled by the very necessity of accompanying the solo lightly to produce ethereal orchestral effects that are in quite a different category from anything in [Beethoven’s] symphonies. On the other hand, the solo part develops the technique of its instrument with a freedom and brilliance for which Beethoven has no leisure in sonatas and chamber music.” Truly a masterwork.
Dvorak’s 8th Symphony is surely his most joyful. Whether inspiration came from his growing international success, his beloved national heritage of folk songs and dances, or the peace and tranquillity of the country retreat where he worked, is somewhat academic; the music is gorgeous and supremely uplifting.
more about City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
The City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra started life in 1973 as the Harston String Orchestra. Later, as a result of a change in venue, it became the Barton String Orchestra. In 2000 Leon Lovett took over as conductor and shortly afterwards, the orchestra changed its name to the Cambridge String Players. Under his baton, the orchestra has appeared regularly in West Road Concert Hall and in other venues around Cambridge. In addition to playing works for strings, the orchestra increasingly invited wind players to join it to perform works from the symphonic repertoire. Recognising this change of emphasis, the musicians decided that the orchestra needed a new name and in September 2008, it became the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. In February 2012 Robert Hodge became CCSO’s new conductor.