Northern Chamber Orchestra with Nicholas Ward, violin The Heritage Centre, Macclesfield Saturday 5 December 5.30pm | 8.00pm Mozart (1756 – 1791) Divertimento in B flat major K137 I Andante II Allegro di molto III Allegro assai Borodin (1833 – 1887) Nocturne Haydn (1732 – 1809) Violin Concerto in G major, Hob.VIIa:4 I Allegro Moderato II Adagio III Allegro Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) String Symphony No 12 in G minor I Fuga: Grave - Allegro II Andante III Allegro molto The three divertimenti K136-8 were composed in Salzburg early in 1772 when Mozart was aged 16. It seems likely that they were intended for solo performance but nowadays are mostly performed by string orchestras. The B flat K137 is the least played of the set with its unusual layout. Mozart starts with an Andante which begins playfully in uncertain tonality. The brilliant Allegro di molto (which would bring the house down as a finale) is placed second, leaving the elegant Allegro assai to finish the piece. The Nocturne is one of Borodin’s most famous compositions. It was written as the third movement of his second string quartet, and has been arranged in many ways since. It is a simple piece in ternary form with a main theme of remarkable beauty and emotional intensity. Some critics have suggested that the movement may be a lament for the death of Modest Mussorgsky. However it has more plausibly been suggested that it evokes Borodin’s love for his wife, Ekaterina Protopopova, to whom he was a devoted husband. Haydn's Violin Concerto in G Major dates from sometime before 1769, which means that Haydn was still in his thirties when he wrote it. The first movement is a wonderful example of the Classical take on a well tried Baroque structure: ritornello. The orchestra presents a series of phrases, each with distinctive melodic outline and rhythm. These are used throughout the movement to create a clear framework (usually referred to as ‘tuttis’). In between times the solo violin is allowed to elaborate and generally show off, supported by a simple accompaniment. Before the final tutti, everything stops to allow the soloist the ultimate indulgence - an unaccompanied cadenza. The second movement Adagio moves to C major, and the solo violin enters only after the orchestra has laid out the principal theme. Matters grow more complex as the movement proceeds, but the writing for violin is unfailingly melodic, and Haydn offers another cadenza before the close. The concerto is rounded off by an Allegro that returns to the home key of G major. Born in Hamburg, brought up in Berlin in a rich and highly cultured family, Mendelssohn started composition lessons at a very young age with Carl Zelter. They studied particularly the contrapuntal style of Bach and Handel and in these years Mendelssohn produced a large quantity of music including the 13 string symphonies. The 12th of these, in G minor, starts with an imposing slow introduction leading to a fugue with a descending chromatic subject - all handled confidently by the 14-year-old composer. The intensely felt Andante (with prominent parts for divided violas) seems especially miraculous for a teenager to produce. The final vigorous Allegro molto has contrasting episodes of beauty before being whipped up to an exciting finish. Tonight's Orchestra Violin I Viola Nicholas Ward Richard Muncey David Routledge Michael Dale Louise Latham Cello Violin II William Hewer Simon Gilks Barbara Grunthal Rebecca Thompson Sarah Whittingham Double Bass James Manson About the Northern Chamber Orchestra Patron Stephen Barlow • Artistic Director Nicholas Ward • President Raphael Wallfisch • Vice-President Martin Roscoe • Honorary Patrons The Lord Stunell OBE, The Baroness Bakewell DBE Patrons Professor Alison Adam & Dr Craig Adam • Alison Allcard • Richard Baker • Bevan & Dr Barbara Broadbent • Caroline Brown • Michael & Judith Biggin • Roger & Hilary Brice • Nicola Bright • Liz Chalmers • Ian Edgar • David Ellis • Heather Griffiths • Betty Hill • Geoff & Jennie Holman • David Kingsley • Brian Leighton • Eleanor & Allan Lewington • Angela Losse • Drs Chris & Mary Loughran • Vernon Matthews • Joan Matthews • Mary Miller • Peter Raynes • Dr Michael Sambrook • Bob Scott • Helen Scott • Dieter Senn • Adrienne Spilsbury • Jean Soni • David Sutton • Stephen Threlfall • Peter Thomasson • Mike & Ruth Wilbey • Sue Williams Chair Sponsors Nicholas Ward is supported by Ken & Pam McKinlay • Simon Gilks is supported by Anne Thompson • Louise Latham is supported by Eleanor Lewington • Paula Smart is supported by Dr Michael Sambrook • Rebecca Thompson is supported by Valerie Elliott • Richard Muncey is supported by Angela Losse • Barbara Grunthal is supported by Peter Raynes • James Manson is supported by Ken & Pam McKinlay • Conrad Marshall is supported by Dieter Senn • Nichola Hunter is supported by Jane & Wyn Davies • Kenny Sturgeon is supported by Caroline Brown • Daniel Bayley is supported anonymously • Rachel Whibley is supported by John Whibley Holidays • Tracey Redfern is supported by John Bush • Elizabeth Jordan is sponsored anonymously Board Members John Phillips (Chair) • Naomi Atherton • Constantine Biller • John Bush • Kate Grimoldby • Conrad Marshall • Stephen Threlfall • Peter Thomasson • Mike Wilbey Staff General Manager Charlie Rowley • Concerts Manager Jonathan Thackeray • Marketing Manager Siobhan Parker • Finance and Administration Officer Chris Bryan • Education Co-ordinator Lawrence Dinh • Librarian Louise Latham Our next concert Northern Chamber Orchestra with Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano Saturday 16 January 5.30pm | 8pm The Heritage Centre, Macclesfield Purcell Abdelazer suite | Vivaldi Agitata da due venti (Griselda) | Vivaldi Violin concerto in F minor Winter | Handel Silete venti For more information about the NCO and its concerts at Stoller Hall, Manchester and Macclesfield Heritage Centre, please visit our website, www.ncorch.co.uk
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