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Programme Notes
Autumn Concert 2nd November 2024
Conductor: James Young
Leader: Cath Cormie
Soprano: Claire Taylor
Programme Notes
Felix Mendelssohn – Overture “The Fair Melusine” Op. 32
This concert overture was composed in 1834 as a birthday present for Felix’s sister Fanny, and was inspired by seeing Kreutzer’s opera “Melusina” It was subsequently revised and published two years later. It is a contemplation on the legend of Melusina, a cursed water nymph that turns into a serpent from the waist down every Saturday. She marries Knight Raimund on condition he does not see her on this day – however curiosity gets the better of him and he loses her forever to the sea. The rippling opening theme perhaps anticipates the Rhine river music of Richard Wagner and is followed by more dramatic orchestral writing before ending quietly.
Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Strings in D Minor, RV 128
Allegro non molto
Largo
Allegro
This concerto is one of around 50 Vivaldi wrote for string ensemble, from over 500 surviving concerti for various instrumental combinations. It is a short but highly attractive work (despite the sombre characteristics of the key) and full of contrasts.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Zaide, K.344
Aria “Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben”
Mozart began composing his German language singspiel opera now known as Zaide in 1780 but never completed it - an overture and third act are absent. The score was lost until discovered by his widow eight years after his death. This tender air for soprano from Act I is perhaps the best known number and depicts the heroine Zaide chancing upon Gomatz asleep under a tree and instantly falling in love. She leaves her portrait and valuables and implores him to meet her later at the same spot.
Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben, schlafe, bis dein Gluck erwacht
Da, mein Bild will ich dir geben, schau, wie Freundlich es dir lacht
Ihr sussen Traume, wiegt ihn ein, und lasset seinem Wunsch am Ende
Die wollustreichen Gegenstande zu reifer Wirklichkeit gedeihn.
Gently rest, my dearest love, sleep until happiness dawns
I will give you my portrait, see how kindly it smiles upon you
Sweet dreams rock him to sleep and grant his wish at last
And may his dreams of love ripen into reality.
Emmanuel Chabrier – Suite Pastorale
Idylle and Danse villageoise
Chabrier was born in the Auvergne in 1841 and despite showing early musical promise followed the family tradition in studying law, subsequently entering the Civil Service. However he devoted all his spare time to music, attending the Parisian salons at night, and composing intermittently. He resigned his post in his late thirties in order to concentrate solely on musical pursuits. His compositional style was influenced by the rhythms and colour of Spain, as depicted in his most famous work “España” His Suite Pastorale was premiered in 1888 and comprises attractive orchestrations of an earlier collection of solo piano works.
Interval
Jan Vaclav Vorisek – Symphony in D Op. 23 or 24
Allegro con brio
Andante
Scherzo: Allegro ma non troppo
Finale: Allegro con brio
The Bohemian composer Vorisek was a talented pianist and composer who also studied philosophy, aesthetics, mathematics and law. He moved to Vienna in 1813 to develop his legal and musical skills, immersing himself in the many aspects of musical life there as a composer, pianist, conductor and court organist. He wrote his only symphony in 1821 at the age of thirty, however it was not published until after his untimely death from tuberculosis four years later. He was a close friend of Schubert and met Spohr, Moscheles, Hummel and Beethoven - this symphony is often compared in style to early Beethoven. It is composed for a standard classical orchestra and is full of contrasting motifs and dynamics. The third movement is also notable for its horn writing. Vorisek also employs much chromaticism, sudden shifts from major to minor, and the characteristically “Czech” intervals of thirds and sixths.
With thanks to Simon McCann for the programme notes
