Lili Boulanger’s ‘D’un matin de printemps’ is a joyful, carefree depiction of a spring morning. Completed in 1918 when the composer was just 25, the work glistens with light and youthful energy, following in the stylistic tradition of Debussy.
By contrast, Richard Strauss’s ‘Four Last Songs’ were the product of his old age, written when he was 84. In low spirits, he was encouraged by his son to write ‘one last great piece of music’, a phrase which is certainly fulfilled by what is generally held to be his most beautiful, expressive and moving composition.
Composed in secret and hidden in a cupboard because he was not satisfied, Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony only saw the light of day because his friends prompted him to have it performed. In the event, the premiere in St Petersburg in 1908 was a triumph. Packed with truly gorgeous melodies and lush orchestration, the symphony has never waned in popularity.
The City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra will be playing under its regular conductor Robert Hodge; The soloist in the Strauss 'Four Last Songs' is Katy Thomson.
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.