Founded
1881
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CHICHESTER
CATHEDRAL
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
2005
Alice Mary Smith
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The Symphony in C minor is reputedly the earliest symphony composed by an
Englishwoman and one of two symphonies composed by Alice Mary Smith.
Steeped heavily in the music of Mendelssohn and her teacher Macfarren, her music excited mild curiousity and enthusiasm during her lifetime as an example of 'what women could do' with the right encouragement. With its broad arching melodies and rich orchestration, her music deserves wider recognition. |
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The Symphony in C Minor was last played by the orchestra in 1978. Alice's grandson was Reverend Humphrey Kempe of Donnington, a former conductor of the orchestra. After retiring as conductor, he remained to play the viola with the orchestra and so played at this concert in 1978. According to the Observer review for the concert, the Symphony was the most intriguing item on the programme, played from the original manuscript parts as this was the first time the work had been performed since 1863. Alice's music has been drawn to the musical world's attention through performing editions of her music by Ian Graham-Jones and her two symphonies and the Andante for clarinet and orchestra have been recorded by the London Mozart Players. |
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FESTIVITIES
Concert
2005 Friday 1st July, 7.30 pm St. Paul’s Church, Northgate BEETHOVEN Overture "Fidelio", Op. 72C SAINT-SAENS Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor,Op. 33 Soloist: Ella Rundle (Menuhin School) BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2 in D Op. 36 BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Haydn "St. Antoni Chorale" Op. 56A |
REVIEW - Ian Graham-Jones Chichester Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Michael Walsh, gave us a festive start to Chichester Festivities on its opening night last Friday. The programme started with an ambitious choice of overture, Beethoven's Fidelio, in a spirited performance in which the woodwind and horns managed their exposed passages with ease.
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Undoubtedly the high spot of the evening was the appearance of the young cellist, Ella Rundle who is just 17 and in her third year at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. A former pupil at Chichester High School, Ella is already an accomplished soloist, and gave a fine, assured performance, from memory, of the Saint-Saens cello concerto in A Minor. Ella performed an encore - a flamenco by the guitar composer, Tagell, - on unaccompanied cello, which gave the audience the chance to appreciate her technique in a dazzling display of multiple stopping and harmonics. Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 was perhaps the least secure work in the programme, where details of orchestral tuning and some exposed passages, notably for the horns, showed areas where the orchestra needs to work, but it was nevertheless generally securely played, with brisk, well-chosen tempi. Even more ambitious was the choice of Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn (the St. Antoni Chorale). Here the orchestra seemed much more assured, with some excellent playing from the wind, and in which the strings displayed their strength. This was a thoroughly enjoyable performance in which the orchestra, ably led by Mark Hartt-Palmer, were at their best.
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EASTER CONCERT 2005
Saturday 2nd April, 7.30pm St. Paul's Church, Northgate Conductor :Michael Walsh Leader: Mark Hartt-Palmer BEETHOVEN Overture “King Stephen”, Op.117 BIZET Symphony in C DVORAK Violin Concerto in A minor,Op. 53 Soloist: Mark Hartt-Palmer Leader: Helen Purchase |
REVIEW - Richard
Barnes
Chichester Observer 07/04/05) New Conductor makes his mark The warm acoustic of St. Paul's and an enthusiastic audience greeted Michael Walsh's debut as conductor of the Chichester Symphony Orchestra. His work with them is already leaving its mark - a string section larger than for some time played at times with both richness and delicacy, while wind intonation is improving and enthusiasm getting more disciplined! |
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The concert opened with
Beethoven's last orchestral work, the Overture to King Stephen. It
has to be admitted that this does not contain his most memorable tunes,
though it warmed the orchestra up admirably.
The main work in the first half
was Bizet's Symphony in C, written when he was only 17. The Orchestra
conveyed well its Gallic wit and lightness, and one of the highlights of
the whole evening was Margaret McSweeney's tender oboe solo in the lyrical
second movement. |
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