Exploring ‘Classical Celebration II’

By Southern Sinfonia 


Everyone at Southern Sinfonia was recently thrilled to announce that our March concert will contain a very exciting performance from Matthew Gee who joins us for ‘Classical Celebration II’. Our music director, David Hill, will conduct the concert also featuring Mozart and Elgar.

As previously announced the concert, which takes place at St. Nicolas Church, Newbury on March 27^th at 7.30pm will feature the following programme:

Elgar - Serenade for Strings, op. 20

de Souza - Trombone Concerto

Soloist - Matthew Gee

Mozart - Symphony no. 40 K.550

Conductor - David Hill

The orchestra will play a rare performance of Southern Sinfonia’s Artistic Advisor, Chris de Souza’s, Trombone Concerto. The concerto was last performed in 2008 by local lad Michael Buchanan - a previous winner of our Young Musician of the Year competition. Esteemed soloist and Chairman of the British Trombone Society, Matthew Gee, will perform the concerto.

Matthew currently holds the position of principal trombone for the Royal Philharmonic and Aurora Orchestra.  He has played with some of the finest orchestras and chamber ensembles in the world and worked with some of the greatest conductors of this generation. We are extremely excited for Matthew to join us for a rare performance of Chris' wonderful piece. Listen out for what is a simply gorgeous middle movement sandwiched by some outstanding Trombone virtuosity showing the extremities of what the instrument can achieve! 

 

Edward Elgar wrote Serenade for Strings in March 1892; it received its first performance by Worcester Ladies Orchestral Class, with the composer conducting. The piece is actually dedicated to organ builder and keen amateur musician Edward Whinfield. The serenade is a firm favourite amongst classical music fans, and will provide a beautiful opening to the concert.

Written in 1788, Mozart’s Symphony no. 40 is often referred to as the Great G minor Symphony. Incidentally, it is one of only two of Mozart’s 41 symphonies that he wrote in a minor key. It is often suggested that Mozart never actually heard the piece; some suggest he never even wanted it to be played. This has been disputed, however, by numerous music academics over the years following studies of his letters. The piece contains one of Mozart’s most famous motifs, used countless times in advertisements and on television programmes.

In the meantime, The Hohenthal Trio will visit the Corn Exchange, Newbury for a lunchtime recital on 27^th February. Southern Sinfonia leader Alexander Hohenthal will play alongside Nick Stringfellow on cello and pianist Eleanor Hodgkinson. The trio will play two piano trios by Mozart and Mendelssohn. We can’t wait to hear them!

To book tickets for any of our upcoming events, please visit the Corn Exchange website, www.cornexchangenew.com, visit the box office, or call 08455 218218.

To find out more about Southern Sinfonia please visit our website, Facebook and Twitter.