Musical Midsummer Dreams for Newcastle in August Mendelssohn & Beethoven at City Hall

Like all European young men of means in the 19th century, Felix Mendelssohn set off on a grand tour of Europe at the age of 20. Unusually, however, Mendelssohn elected to begin in Scotland – and while there, he was greatly moved by the dramatic landscape and the bloody history of Mary Queen of Scots. He began writing his Scottish Symphony while on his tour, although he didn’t complete it until a decade later. But clearly, Scotland had left its mark on him, and the symphony seems to evoke the striking countryside.

Equally evocative is Mendelssohn’s Overture to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, written when he was just 16 – the quick, playful strings at the start suggest the scampering of fairies’ feet, and later one can even hear the braying of Bottom after he has been turned into a donkey!

Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony features a lightness of touch, but it is perhaps his most radical. It completely abandons the traditional structure of a symphony, leaps from loud to soft without warning, and at every turn surprises and confounds expectations. When asked by his pupil Carl Czerny why the Eighth was less popular than the Seventh, Beethoven is said to have replied, "Because the Eighth is so much better" – an appropriately enigmatic answer for a fascinating work!

These two much-loved composers - and their three beautiful works - feature in the upcoming Midsummer Dreams concert by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestracoming to Newcastle City Hall on Saturday, 5 August, at 7pm.

Conducted by Rachael Beesley, the full symphony orchestra of over 40 instrumentalists for this stunning touring program features visiting overseas artists, returning Australian internationals and outstanding local musicians – all uniting for the national tour of this popular and critically-acclaimed Australian orchestra. Don’t miss their upcoming visit to Newcastlethe finale to their 10th-year celebrations.

“The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra delivers…with splendid playing, a unique sound and winning repertoire.” Limelight The full program, information and bookings can be found at www.arco.org.au

WHAT: Midsummer Dreams - Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra

WHEN: Saturday 5 August | 7.00pm

WHERE: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King St, Newcastle

MORE INFO/TIX: www.arco.org.au