The Horn Concerto No 2 dates from 1942, whilst Richard Strauss was living in Vienna, and premiered at the Salzburg Festival in 1943 with Gottfried von Freiburg as the soloist. The concerto looks back to structure of the classical concerto in its three-movement structure and was popularised by the eminent British player, Dennis Brain.
We are very pleased to welcome back George Strivens as our soloist. George currently holds a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music and has been a member of the Halle Youth Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and BBC Proms Youth Orchestra. George is also an accomplished singer as he is a member of the BBC Symphony Chorus. This is his second visit to King Edward Musical Society – a few years ago he played in our performance of Schumann’s Konzertstuck for 4 horns and orchestra.
Brahms's Symphony No 1 is widely regarded as one of the greatest Austro-German symphonies. Its composition took nearly 20 years and it premiered on 4th November 1876. As Brahms had lived for over a decade in Vienna where Beethoven had produced many of his great works, he chose Karlsruhe, Germany for the premier, thinking it would have a better chance of success there, away from Beethoven’s shadow.
Oberon, or The Elf King’s Oath, is a 3 act romantic opera with spoken dialogue composed in 1825-26 and premiered in Covent Garden, London on 12th April 1826. The concert features the overture to this opera.
Puccini wrote Crisantemi in memory of his friend, the Duke of Savoy, formerly King Amadeo I of Spain who died in 1890. It was apparently written in one night after the news of the Duke’s death reached Puccini.