Northern Chamber Orchestra - 2019-20 Macclesfield Season

MUSICIANS OF THE POWERHOUSE

M A C C L E S F I E L D H E R I TA G E C E N T R E C O N C E R T S

SEASON

BROCHURE 2019-2020

Bringing music to life since 1967

NORTHERN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Nicholas Ward, Artistic Director Macclesfield Concert Series Heritage Centre, Roe Street Macclesfield SK11 6UT Adjacent free parking All concerts start at 7.30pm

Become a Friend of the NCO: • Annual fee only £25 single membership / £40 joint membership • Attend special events and pre-concert talks • Join members of the orchestra and other Friends for a complimentary drink after concerts • £1 off all Macclesfield concert tickets and all NCO recordings • Attend fundraising events and outings • Priority Booking

Call the office on 0161 247 2220 or email friends@ncorch.co.uk

www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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Elizabeth Jordan clarinet

October

Sibelius Rakastava op 14 Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A major K622 Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Haydn Symphony no 6 in D major Le Matin supported by the Friends of the NCO We begin our season showcasing many of our excellent principal players. Elizabeth Jordan gives us her fine interpretation of Mozart’s gorgeous Clarinet Concerto on the basset clarinet, for which the piece was originally written. Vaughan Williams’ much-loved Lark Ascending finds Artistic Director Nicholas Ward evoking a nostalgic scene of the English countryside. Listening to Sibelius’ wonderfully atmospheric Rakastava, it is hard to imagine that he originally composed this for unaccompanied male chorus. Haydn’s Symphony no 6 nicknamed ‘Le Matin’, opens with a picture of the sun rising. It is the first of three symphonies that are characterised by unusual virtuoso writing across the orchestral ensemble, most notably the double bass.

“Jordan…plays with a consistently warm tone, and has complete command… of the work” Jane Ellsworth, Clarinet.org

www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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Raphael Wallfisch cello

November Holst St Paul’s Suite Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Weinberg Cello Concertino op 42 Schubert Symphony no 5 supported by Caroline Brown Raphael Wallfisch, one of the most distinguished solo cellists of our time, has for a number of years been President of the NCO. He plays Tchaikovsky’s original version of the Rococo Variations, which marries the expressive and virtuosic power of the instrument. Raphael gives the UK premiere of the concertino by Mieczyslaw Weinberg, a contemporary of Shostakovich who surpassed his friend in the quantity of symphonies and quartets he composed. His work has recently been gaining recognition from critics and audiences alike. Trombonist Gustav Holst shows the perfection of his string writing in the St Paul’s Suite, making characterful use of folk tunes. We end with the ever fresh 5th Symphony by the youthful Schubert.

“Wallfisch’s playing was unwaveringly eloquent: the phrasing exquisitely tailored, the tone refined, the musicianship expressive and fluent” Seen and Heard International

www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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Nicholas Daniel oboe

December

Handel Concerto Grosso op 6 no 12 Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto Shostakovich Chamber Symphony op 110a Mozart Adagio and Fugue Vivaldi Violin Concerto RV199 Il Sospetto We’re pleased to welcome back Nicholas Daniel, who has played many times for us in past seasons; surely among the greatest of BBC Young Musician winners. Vaughan Williams wrote his Oboe Concerto in 1944 at the age of 72 while composing his opera The Pilgrim’s Progress. It has a symphonic feel about it while at the same time virtuosic and beautifully lyrical.

Shostakovich wrote his 8th string quartet in Dresden over only 3 days in 1960. It’s an intensely personal piece, using a 4 note motif made from his name while quoting from a number of his own works. There is an incredibly bleak landscape contrasted with terrifying sounds of war.

Following this we have Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C minor, the adagio alternately dramatic and quite beautiful, preceding a fugue he had composed earlier for two pianos.

The concert begins and ends with baroque: Handel’s B minor concerto grosso contains one of his loveliest tunes – the E major Larghetto e piano and Vivaldi’s C minor concerto is one of his finest.

“Daniel has a masterful control of tone… the oboe seems itself a living thing”

Seen and Heard International

www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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credit Linda Nylind

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Colin Currie percussion

January

Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Kurt Schwertsik Now you hear me, now you don’t Delius Two Aquarelles Dvořák Serenade for Strings op 22 supported by the Friends of the NCO Our first concert of the New Year brings a programme that begins and ends with two great string serenades. The much abused term masterpiece must unquestionably be applied to Mozart’s Little Night Music, composed towards the end of his short life. Dvorák’s Serenade, in five movements, contains a waltz, a scherzo and one of his loveliest slow movements.

The high-spirited finale eventually returns to the benign calm of the opening section, giving an arch-like structure to the whole piece.

We welcome the marvellously talented Scottish percussionist, Colin Currie. He is playing an entertaining piece by contemporary Viennese composer Kurt Schwertsik, whose works are characterised by his particular exploration of tonality, musical irony and humour.

“Currie made expressive use of toms and small gong in particular, with the agility of his movement around his assorted instruments making him sound like a one-man gamelan.”

Bachtrack

www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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Martin James Bartlett piano

February

Rossini String Sonata no 4 Mozart Piano Concerto K271 Jeunehomme Sibelius Suite Champêtre Mozart Symphony no 33 in B flat supported by Caroline Brown Winner of the BBC Young Musician competition in 2014, Martin James Bartlett, who previously appeared with the NCO in 2016, returns to Macclesfield. He plays Mozart’s early masterpiece composed in Salzburg when he was 21, which Alfred Brendel called “one of the greatest wonders of the world” and Alfred Einstein dubbed “Mozart’s Eroica.”

Rossini was only twelve years old when he wrote his delightful string sonatas. These are scored for an ensemble of violins, cellos and double bass (no violas!).

Sibelius’ Suite Champêtre is a light-hearted pastoral piece full of rustic charm. The concert concludes with Mozart’s Bb symphony, composed in Salzburg in 1779.

A gravely beautiful slow movement, sprightly outer movements – the minuet was a later addition – show his usual masterful use of the wind.

“Bartlett is a Mozart natural, possessed of a thoroughly grounded craft” Classical Source www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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Chloë Hanslip violin/director

March

Mozart Divertimento in F K138 Shostakovich Sonata for Violin, Strings and Percussion Handel arr. Manson Sonata Mozart Violin Concerto in D K218 A busy evening in store for Artist in Association, Chloë Hanslip! After Mozart’s delightful Salzburg divertimento comes the Shostakovich violin sonata, composed for David Oistrakh on his 60th birthday. Arranged for violin, strings and percussion by violinist Mikhail Zinman, it provides a typically powerful emotional journey ending with a monumental passacaglia.

After Jamie Manson’s take on Handel’s violin sonata in D, Chloë ends with 19 year old Mozart’s D major violin concerto. This has one of his most warm-hearted slow movements, an abundance of melody together with ample opportunities for the soloist to show her virtuosity.

“A massively persuasive variety of tone and technical brilliance from Hanslip left no musical stone unturned.”

Bachtrack www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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NCO Soloists

April

Beethoven String Quartet in B flat op 130/133 Beethoven Septet supported by Geoff and Jennie Holman In celebration of the 250th anniversary year of Beethoven’s birth, our traditional annual NCO Soloists concert gives our principal players the chance to enjoy some of the limelight and features two of his most celebrated chamber works. Beethoven’s String Quartet op 130, played in the original version with the massive and notorious Grosse Fuge as finale, is the most substantial of the late great quartets, which mystified audiences of that time. The Septet, scored for clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and double bass, is one of Beethoven’s most successful and popular works – an uplifting piece of music that is rewarding and enjoyable for the musicians and audience alike.

“the NCO soloists performed flawlessly… these wonderful musicians rose above merely delivering and pushed themselves to create moments of sublime and delicate expression.”

Reviewer No 9 www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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Anthony Marwood violin

May

James Manson New Commission Haydn Symphony no 101 in D major The Clock Beethoven Violin Concerto op 61 supported by Martin and Angela Losse Superb British violinist Anthony Marwood is equally at home playing the great concertos, chamber music and pioneering new works. We eagerly await his interpretation of Beethoven’s Olympian Violin Concerto.

The concert begins with a new piece specially composed by our principal double bass player and resident composer, James Manson. Previous compositions heard in Macclesfield, Meeting at Nisqueunia and Softly Pleads my Song were very well received.

Haydn was 61 when he visited London for the second time and must have revelled in the huge popularity he had there. His D major symphony has a large-scale grandeur alongside sophisticated wit and broad humour together with his inexhaustible inventiveness.

“Marwood performed with the conviction and directness needed…he displayed a control that coloured the lines with a seemingly endless variety of light and shade.”

The Florida-Times Union www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

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TICKET

information £22 auditorium (stalls) £17 gallery Under 18s and full time students FREE Registered disabled audience members can bring one carer free Ring for group discount rates Discounts for season and part-season tickets: Book for all 8 concerts and get one concert FREE Book 4-7 concerts and get £1 off each concert NCO Friends and Patrons get £1 off each concert Priority booking for season and part-season tickets throughout May and June. Tickets go on general sale on 1 July Book your tickets online at www.ncorch.co.uk Or call the NCO box office: 0161 247 2220 A limited number of tickets will be available on the door

TAT TO N PA R K C O N C E R T

Friday 13 December 8pm

ONCE UPON A TIME Start your Christmas with a visit to the magnificent Tatton Park in our now traditional Christmas concert, with a tour of the mansion, a glass of winter punch and a musical journey through ‘Once Upon a Time’ with NCO and the choir of St Nicholas Catholic High School Choir, Northwich.

Tickets: £25/U18s £15 - Discounts for group bookings Ticket price includes tour and warming winter drink.

Registered disabled audience members can bring one carer free Tickets available from the NCO Box Office: 0161 247 2220 or www.ncorch.co.uk

www.ncorch.co.uk | 0161 247 2220

Call us on 01457 601 608 to book your complimentary financial review Proud to sponsor The Northern Chamber Orchestra

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A: 93 High Street West, Glossop, SK13 8BB W: www.capstone-financial.co.uk The Partner Practice represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title ‘Partner Practice’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

SAVE THE DATES MACCLESFIELD HERITAGE CENTRE CONCERTS ALL CONCERTS ARE ON SATURDAYS AT 7.30PM

5 October – Elizabeth Jordan, clarinet 9 November – Raphael Wallfisch, cello 7 December – Nicholas Daniel, oboe 18 January – Colin Currie, percussion 15 February – Martin James Bartlett, piano 21 March – Chloë Hanslip, violin/directot 18 April – NCO Soloists 16 May – Anthony Marwood, violin Thanks to our season sponsor:

Our corporate patrons:

Thanks also to the Friends of NCO and all of our Patrons.

We are grateful for the support of Macclesfield Town Council in producing these concerts.

The NCO is a registered charity (no. 278912) and an incorporated company (no. 1430784) We welcome donations and bequests in support of our concert programmes, learning and development programmes and work with dementia care under the Mind Music banner.

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