September Serenade
Location: Chippenham
Date: 27-09-2012
Time: 19:30
Venue Details: St Andrew's Church
Works Performed
- Wagner : Siegfried Idyll
- Mozart : Violin Concerto No.3 K216
- Elgar : Serenade for Strings
- Mendelssohn : Symphony No.4 "Italian"
Performers
- Conductor : Maxime Tortelier
- Soloist: Jack Liebeck (Violin)
Siegfried Idyll, written as a gift from Wagner to his wife Cosima, shows the composer at his most delicate. Although the Idyll is not characteristic of his usual powerful style, this very private piece is a delightful expression of his love and is regarded as one of his greatest works.
The third is arguably the most popular of Mozart's five Violin Concertos and especially striking for its sophistication - a sign of Mozart's growing finesse as a composer, even at just 19. Its sweetness and lyrical simplicity make it difficult not to adore.
Serenade for Strings remains one of Elgar's most frequently performed works. Its middle movement, Larghetto, is amongst the most expressive and beautiful music he ever wrote.
Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony captures his personal impression of the country as he travelled Europe between 1829 and 1831. The joyful colours of the first movement, depicting scenes of Italian countryside, contrast with the minor second movement inspired as Mendelssohn witnessed a religious procession in Naples. A melodic minuet in the third movement is followed by a vivacious presto finale built on the Italian Salterello and Tarantella dances - as wild and energetic as the Carnival Festivities of nineteenth century Rome!
