Friday 30 November 2012

Getting to know...Richard Strauss

Strauss (left) with his father (right)


11 June 1864 – Richard Georg Strauss was born in Munich, Germany. The son of Franz Strauss, principal horn player at the Court Opera in Munich, Richard Strauss would receive a comprehensive musical education from his father and would write his first composition at the age of six.
 


 


Richard Wagner



1874 - Strauss heard his first Wagner operas, Lohengrin and Tannhäuser. The influence of Wagner's music on Strauss would be exceptionally important, but it was not until the age of 16 that Strauss was able to obtain a score of Tristan und Isolde due to his father’s extreme suspicion of Wagner’s work. 
Hans von Bülow


1882 - Strauss entered Munich University, where he studied Philosophy and Art History, but left a year later to go to Berlin, where he secured a post as assistant conductor to Hans von Bülow. Much of the style of Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn can be observed in Strauss' compositions from this time and his Horn Concerto No. 1, Op. 11 is a staple of modern horn repertoire.
 




Alexander Ritter



1885 - Strauss' style began to truly develop and change when he met Alexander Ritter, a noted composer and violinist. It was Ritter who persuaded Strauss to abandon the conservative style of his youth, and begin writing tone poems, resulting in the creation of works such as Don Juan, Death and Transfiguration, and Don Quixote.
 




Pauline de Ahna


10 September 1894 - Richard Strauss married soprano Pauline de Ahna, who would be an enduring source of inspiration for him. Throughout his life, from his earliest songs to the final Four Last Songs, he preferred the soprano voice to all others, and all his operas contain important soprano roles. The Strausses had one son, Franz, in 1897.
 




Richard Strauss



End of 19th Century - Strauss turned his attention to opera. His first two attempts in the genre, Guntram (1894) and Feuersnot (1901), were controversial works: Guntram was the first significant critical failure of Strauss's career, and Feuersnot was considered obscene by some critics.






Illustration of Salome by Aubrey Beardsley









In 1905, Strauss produced Salome, an opera based on the play by Oscar Wilde. The premiere was a major success, with the artists taking more than 38 curtain calls and being described by Mahler as "a live volcano, a subterranean fire".
 





Strauss with his grandchildren

March 1933 - Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power. Strauss never joined the Nazi party. However, in order to protect his Jewish daughter-in-law and Jewish grandchildren and in the hope that he would be be able to help promote German art and culture, he was initially drawn into cooperating with the early Nazi regime and accepted the position of president of the Reichsmusikkammer.
 



 
Stefan Zweig


1935 – Strauss’ comic opera, Die schweigsame Frau, which he had composed with his Jewish friend and librettist Stefan Zweig was premiered in Dresden, with Strauss insisting that Zweig's name appear on the theatrical billing. As a result, Goebbels did not attend as planned, the opera was banned after just three performances  and Strauss was sacked from his position in the Reichsmusikkammer.




Dresden after the Allied bombings
1945 - Strauss completed the composition of Metamorphosen, a work for 23 solo strings. Widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of the string repertoire, Metamorphosen contains Strauss's greatest expression of tragic emotion. Written during the darkest days of WW2, Metamorphosen articulates Strauss's mourning of, among other things, the destruction of German culture — including the bombing of every great opera house in the nation.


Richard Strauss by Max Liebermann




1948 - Strauss wrote his last work, the profound and haunting Four Last Songs for soprano and orchestra.
 
8 September 1949 - Richard Strauss died at the age of 85 on 8 September 1949, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany








Southern Sinfonia performs Strauss' Four Last Songs with Windsor & Eton Choral Society on Tuesday 11 December at Eton College School Hall. For more information please visit our website.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Come & Sing with David Hill



Fancy a day singing with David Hill, one of the UK’s foremost choral conductors? 

We thought so. That’s why we’re hosting a very special Come & Sing event on Saturday 15 June 2013 at St. Nicolas Church, Newbury.

Performing David Hill’s arrangement of the Fauré Requiem for violin, cello, harp and organ, this promises to be a day of song, musical guidance and song, topped off with a performance in the evening.

All voices are welcome and we are aiming to have choir of up to 200 singers along with professional soloists, so to reserve your place in our Come & Sing download a form from our website

Registration closes on Tuesday 18 December, so please return any forms before this date to avoid disappointment. 


Thursday 15 November 2012

Are you the next Newbury Older Musician of the Year?



Today (Thurs 15 November 2012) marks the launch of Southern Sinfonia’s Newbury Older Musician of the Year competition.

Funded by Greenham Common Community Trust, this fun event provides the opportunity for duos, trios and quartets, as well as soloists, to showcase their lifelong passion for music – supported by friends and family. 

It’s open to everyone over 60 on or before 1st September 2013, living within a 60 mile radius of Newbury Town Hall and not a professional musician.

There will be first and second prizes of £1500 and £750, as well as the opportunity for the winner(s) to play with the orchestra at a future concert if the individuals would like to (however it’s not a condition of winning!!!).

Our last winner of the Newbury Older Musician of the Year, Mike Thomson (pictured above), had a wonderful time performing with us in St Nicolas Church, Newbury at our Classical and Romantic concert. We now need to find his successor(s)! So to be in for a chance of winning, register your interest with Anita by Thursday 13 December 2012. 

Call now on 01635 580035 or visit our website for more information.

Thursday 1 November 2012

Speed Interview with Alexander Hohenthal

Needless to say, we are very excited about the third Cafe Concert in our 2012/13 series. Taking place on Friday 23 November at Corn Exchange, Newbury and featuring a very special performance of JS Bach's Goldberg Variations, it promises to be fantastic way to start the weekend. We caught up with Alexander Hohenthal (Southern Sinfonia's leader) who will be performing the Goldberg Variations (along with Heather Tuach and Colin Scobie, of course) to ask a few quick questions...

1. What has been your career highlight so far?
In terms of career, any performance in London, Buenos Aires, Vienna and so on comes to mind, certainly the Expo 2000 in Hannover together with Sir Roger Norrington - but basically, I am quite critical if not neurotic about my efforts. Only one or two concerts every year match my own expectations and "cut the mustard". As a result, some of what I consider my best concerts have been in minor halls for small audiences - "success" is in the search for improvement, something that never ends in the world of music.

2. When/ where are you most happy?

As stated above, when I feel the performance meets my demands - other than that, being with my family and friends!

3. Which person (living or dead) do you most admire and why?

Any person who has the integrity to hold on to his / her convictions and believes regardless of trial and adversity is my idol.

4. How do you relax when you're not performing?

Cooking and dining with friends and family. Red wine and cigars might be involved!

5. If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

I often think I was born too late, maybe the 19th century?

6. What other skill/ talent would you like to possess?

Play the piano properly, be a kinder father, raise enough wealth to help other people, have more patience, be content with the world and myself. Realistic? Maybe not, but a man can dream...

7. What is your favourite book?

The one I’m reading at the time.

8. What is the most played piece of music in your CD collection?

Over the years, as one does, I had many favourite recordings at a time, and the list is long: Hora Zero (Astor Piazolla), Friday Night in San Francisco (Paco de Lucia, John MCLaughlin, Al di Meola), Paolo Conte, Jaques Brel, Cannonball Adderley,...
Oh, and there is classical as well?!
Brahms Intermezzi played by Radu Lupu.

9. Does leading Southern Sinfonia differ from leading a European orchestra?

Preparation of a programme in only one or two rehearsals as opposed to nearly a week of rehearsals, which requires much mental alertness and efficiency- a great quality about English musicians. However, on top of accuracy comes the transformation into heartfelt music making, which we try to accomplish more and more every time we play together.

10. What's the best thing about leading Southern Sinfonia?

Friendship and camaraderie.

For more information about Alexander's upcoming performance, please visit our website.