Information on Loughborough

Russian Music Concert in Loughborough

Posted on 02/11/2007
P. Klein

violin and musicOn Saturday December 1st Charnwood Orchestra will perform a programme of Russian music at All Saints Parish Church, Steeple Row, Loughborough LE11 1UX starting at 7.45pm.

Last years performance was very popular and the programme this year is an exciting one, full of colour and Russian passion.

They will begin with Liadovs Eight Russian Folksongs. Although Liadov associated with many famous Russian composers including Mussorgsky and Prokofiev, he himself is not well known. Sadly, he was inclined to laziness and a lack of self-confidence. His career was blighted by a string of unfinished projects. When Diaghilev asked him for a new score for his Ballet Russes, Liadov failed to deliver and instead, Diaghilev turned to the unknown Stravinsky who produced the Firebird. What we do have from Liadov are many short pieces and tone poems, including the Russian Folksongs that are marvellously full of orchestral tone colour.

The next piece of music is Tchaikovskys "Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra. The soloist will be the international cellist, Tim Gill. Though not really a concerto, it was the closest Tchaikovsky ever came to writing a full concerto for cello. The piece consists of a theme and seven variations that are played without pause (except between the last slow movement and the finale). The magic of the piece lies in this seemingly innocent set-up without the usual longer orchestral interludes for the soloist to catch his breath. The effect is truely breathtaking!

During the interval, they will be providing a wine and soft drinks bar.

The last piece of the evening will be the mighty Symphony No 2 by Rachmaninov. For two years before he started writing this symphony, Rachmaninov had been the conductor of Imperial Opera at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. To give himself more time to compose, he moved with his wife and infant daughter to Dresden thus escaping the political upheavals that put Russia on the path to revolution. Rachmaninoff was full of self doubts as he began writing. At its premiere, his First Symphony was considered an utter disaster; its criticism was so harsh that it sent the young composer into a bout of depression. Even after the success of his Piano Concerto No. 2 (which won the Glinka Award and 1000 roubles in 1904), he was very unhappy with the first draft of his Second Symphony but after months of revision, he finished the work and conducted the premiere in 1908. It was a huge success and he won another Glinka Award ten months later. The triumph restored Rachmaninovs sense of self-worth and gave the world a true masterpiece.

Tickets will cost £8.00, £6.00 (concessions) and £2.00 for accompanied children of 16 and under. They are available from various locations including Loughboroughs Town Hall Box Office (01509 231914), the Orchestra Secretary (01509 412063) by email from rodgers_david@hotmail.com from members of the orchestra or on the door. Dont delay however; the church was very full last year. For more information, email sharrison20@hotmail.com