Newsletter, January 2009
Ed: I am grateful to David Curtis for the following article which he somehow found the time to write and email to me whilst on a conducting engagement in the USA in mid-November.
The 2008 Concert Season
- a conductor’s viewpoint
Every year that passes with the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra seems to
bring yet greater accomplishments, and 2008, with still our Christmas concert
to come, seems to have exceeded all expectations and possibilities. I’m
sure I’m not the only member of the orchestra who, if asked a few
short years ago, whether a season could include 3 concerts in Annecy and
the Britten War Requiem, would have been tempted to say ‘possibly
– but you’d be mad to try’. Well, perhaps we were and
a huge debt of thanks must be given to all those who labour behind, and
in front of the scenes to ensure that all our concerts are so very successful.
All the committee members and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that
these events run as smoothly as possible.
To pick highlights from such an outstanding season is no easy task; as conductor
of the orchestra I feel hugely privileged to be working with you all, delivering
performances of such musical intensity and integrity, but there are many
varied and memorable moments, starting with the Mayor of Cheltenham's Charity
Concert and our Strauss waltzes. These waltzes, along with the Tchaikovsky
ballet suites, were among my first introductions to orchestral music, so
I always approach them with great fondness, for me they are exemplars of
their art and the perfect choice for an occasion such as this.
There can’t be many orchestras with not one but two composers in their
ranks and in May it was Tom Kane’s turn to have his horn concerto
performed by the CSO. I’m always delighted by the CSO’s enthusiasm
to tackle new work, it’s a particular passion of mine, and Tom’s
concerto had a splendid premiere with outstanding playing from Alec Frank-Gemmill
and supportive accompaniment from the players of the orchestra, no easy
task in unfamiliar territory.
As a conductor Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony is one of those works
that I always approach with a degree of apprehension, a work of such astonishing
beauty and so well known that I’m sure we all have our favourite recordings
or performances that we treasure, but 2008 gave us two to add to that list
with memorable performances in Cheltenham and of course Annecy.
So much has been said about this wonderful trip that I feel there is little
I can add, save to say that it was a real pleasure for me to conduct these
three concerts. Excellent preparation, on and off the concert platform,
and an astonishing degree of hard work by Christopher and his willing band
of helpers all went to make this a delightful trip with some wonderful music.
Here’s to a return visit in 2010!
Although we still have our Christmas concert to look forward to I still
have the echoes of the Britten War Requiem in my mind. I’m sitting
in a hotel room in Syracuse having just had supper with another conductor
during which the conversation turned to the most memorable performances
we’d conducted recently. Inevitably the Britten War Requiem was at
the top of my list, not only the performance but the profoundly moving,
deep, meditative silence at the work’s conclusion.
The Britten is an astonishing work in so many ways and the performance that
the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra gave went to the very heart of the music,
to quote Miro ‘the spirit is everything’.
Thank you all for such an astonishing performance and for giving me the
opportunity to make music with such very generous people.
Here’s to 2009…
Britten War Requiem in Tewkesbury Abbey
Anne Dunn of the Gloucestershire Echo wrote:
With a large choir and orchestra and attentive audience, the Abbey
was packed for an impressive performance of Britten’s War Requiem.
Written from his pacifist stand against war and combining the Latin Requiem
Mass with a selection of poems by the First World War poet Wilfred Owen,
it requires large forces which have to be firmly controlled. David Curtis
was the impressive conductor for the task as he drew musicianship and interpretation
from his musicians through his confident understanding of the requirements
of the score.
The Cheltenham Symphony Chorus gave of their best throughout this difficult
work, with its rapidly changing time signatures and wide dynamic range.
Notable was the build up in the chorus beginning Recordare and the rhythmic
control in Quam olim Abrahae. The three soloists had all given serious study
to the words; consequently much vocal colouring was evident. The clear voice
of soprano Rachel Chapman rang above the choir; tenor Richard Edgar-Wilson
showed sympathy in What Passing Bells; Alastair Chapman gave a deeply felt
interpretation of his baritone solos. Although unseen, the young choristers
of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum sang clearly with excellent diction
and pitch.
Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra was outstanding in its support, none more
so than the percussion section which greatly enhanced the drama.
Note: This appeared not in the Gloucestershire Echo itself but on its associated website www.crackerjack.co.uk/gloucestershire
Concert reviews seem more likely to appear here now, rather than in the Echo itself, where the Magistrates’ Court and the sports field clearly have precedence over the concert hall.
The Abbey concert returned a small profit, thanks to the generous support
of Lincoln Financial Group, the sponsorship of the full cost of posters
and programmes by Chapman Bates and last but not least as a result of an
energetic campaign to sell tickets, spearheaded by Andrew Chapman. His claque
was out in force that night!
To crown it all, the Royal British Legion netted £919 in their retiring
collection for the annual Poppy Appeal.
The War Requiem at Colston Hall, Bristol
At the invitation of David Ogden, the conductor of several choirs in the
Bristol area, a very successful repeat performance of the Requiem was given
in Colston Hall.
The concert was very well attended and very well received. The only down
side for the audience was that the Hall’s lighting staff unexpectedly
dimmed the house lights just as the performance began, making it quite impossible
to follow the words of the highly evocative Wilfred Owen poem in the programme.
The Christmas concert
The concert followed the successful formula of recent years, with young
soloists and a children’s choir. Samantha Ward, making her third appearance
with us, gave an eloquent and powerful performance of Tchaikovsky’s
First Piano Concerto and violinist Therese de Souza, belying her tender
age of just 15, performed Beethoven’s Romance in F. One of our violinists
remarked “I’ve been trying all my life to produce a sound like
that”.
Leckhampton School Year 6 choir were in good voice, being particularly effective
as the wordless chorus in Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Snowflakes from
Nutcracker.
The orchestra itself was in fine form. Balance, intonation and quality of
sound were excellent, and it was gratifying to see such a large body of
strings, allowing all sections to play within themselves without forcing
the sound.
The Orchestra’s performance of Shostakovich’s Ballet Suite no.
1 showed off the whole Orchestra to very good effect.
And David Curtis was in fine form, carrying orchestra, children and audience
along with him on this most enjoyable evening, rounding off a memorable
year.
CSO link with WellChild
The Orchestra is now linked with WellChild, a Cheltenham based national
charity which supports sick children and their families and funds
paediatric research. We will each be seeking ways to publicise and support
one another’s activities at events, in programmes and newsletters
and on our respective websites. It is hoped that both of us will benefit
as we reach out in our very different ways into the local community.
For more information see www.wellchild.org.uk
Leckhampton CofE Primary School
The Orchestra has presented a Music Prize to the School, in the form of
a shield, as our thanks for the splendid contribution of its choirs to our
Christmas concerts since 2003.
The school has decided to award the prize not to an individual pupil but
to the winning House in the school’s annual music competition, a decision
which is a testament to the strength and all-inclusiveness of music at the
school. This is achieved in the face of other demands in the form of SATS
tests, league tables and OFSTED inspections. Not many schools achieve that
balance.
Play to the Nation on Radio 3
This was a joint venture between Making Music and the BBC, featuring the
broadcast of recordings made by selected amateur orchestras. The programme
on October 31st included the third movement of our recording of Mahler 3,
made in the Abbey in June 2007.
A few copies of the CD are still available from Andrew Chapman, price £15.
See him at rehearsals/concerts or call him on 01684 772272.
We are hoping that MM and the BBC will repeat what proved to be a very successful
showcase event.
Concerts in 2009
See our annual leaflet, which is now being distributed and which will also
be available at concerts.
And finally…
The Orchestra celebrates its 40th anniversary on January 9th 2009 (the
first concert by the then Cheltenham Sunday Players was at Barnwood Church,
Gloucester, on January 9th 1969).
Four current members of CSO took part: Jamie Adams,
Gill and Peter Tomlinson and Hilary Vallance.
Congratulations to them!