HuddersfieldPhilharmonicConcertSeason2O13/14HuddersfieldTownHall&Huddersfield ParishChurch

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MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD

HUDDERS

F

IELDPHILH

ARMONIC

ORCHESTRA

9�November�2013�

in�Huddersfield�Town�Hall

Rossini: Overture to "The Barber of Seville"Elgar: Concerto for Violoncello in E minorTchaikovsky: Symphony No 6 in B minorSoloist: Laura van der Heijden

We are delighted to present this concert of favourite works as the opening event of our 2013-14

season, in which the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra are joined by the 2012 BBC Young

Musician Laura van der Heijden. A winner at the age of 15, Laura's concerts this year include the

concertos of Walton, Dvorák, Haydn and Saint-Saëns, but her only performance of the Elgar concerto

in the north of England is this one. Written in four movements, each of which is divided into

sections of contrasting moods, it is one of Elgar's last major works and reflects his feelings about the

impact of World War 1, "a man wearied with the world..... finding solace in the beauty of music" as

Michael Kennedy has described it.

Our other two works are both associated with legends. Rossini is reputed to have composed The

Barber of Seville within a fortnight and its first performance is recorded as having been disastrous.

"All the whistlers of Italy seemed to have given themselves a rendezvous for this performance."

wrote the critic Castil-Blaze. Tchaikovsky's final symphony is inextricably linked to the mystery

which has surrounded his death and led to so much speculation. What Tchaikovsky himself thought

of the symphony is recorded in his correspondence with his publisher in 1893. "I give you my word

of honour that never in my life have I been so contented, so proud, so happy in the knowledge that I

have written a good piece." The symphony, unusually, ends with a slow movement which is some of

the most anguished music Tchaikovsky ever wrote and yet has found its place as a popular work in

the orchestral repertoire.

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MUSIC�FROM�AROUND�THE�WORLDConcerts in both venues begin at 7.30 pm

8�February�2014�

in�Huddersfield�Town�Hall

Brahms: Academic Festival OvertureGrieg: Piano Concerto in A minorShostakovich: Symphony No 10 in E minorSoloist: Penelope Thwaites

Our concert opens with one of the most jovial of works by Brahms, and one of the best-known.

Given his early musical experiences, Brahms might be described as a pub pianist who made good,

comparable to such recent performers as Les Dawson or Elton John. Thankfully for the classical

audience, his intensive study of the music of Bach as a child ensured his music stayed within the

conventions of orchestral composition!

Grieg's Piano Concerto is not typical of his music, the majority of which is on a much smaller scale,

but it remains probably the most popular of his works. Composed in 1868, famously played at sight

by Franz Liszt, one of its notable interpreters was Australian pianist and composer Percy Grainger,

also a good friend of Grieg. It is particularly fitting that our soloist should be a scholar of Grainger's

work and an advocate for and performer of his music. Awarded the Grainger Medallion of the

International Grainger Society in 1991, Penelope was also the Artistic Director of the 1998 London

Grainger Event and we are excited that she joins us in this performance.

Shostakovich's Symphony No 10 was composed in 1953 and uses the motif DSCH (the initials of his

name) as its thematic basis. First performed soon after the death of Stalin, it was described by Galina

Vishnevskaya (soprano, wife of Mitislav Rostropovich and friend of the composer) as "a composer's

testament of misery, forever damning a tyrant." One of the least programmatic of his symphonies, the

fourth movement presents first an andante compared to those of Mahler, followed by a frantic danse

macabre. The whole symphony is epic in its scale and marks a new chapter in the life of the

symphonic form.

HUDDE

RSFIELDPH

ILHARMON

ICORCHES

TRA

MUSIC�FROM�AROUND�THE�WORLDConcerts in both venues begin at 7.30 pm

26�April�2014�

in�Huddersfield�Town�Hall

Rossini: Overture - William TellHandel: Worthy is the Lamb (from The Messiah)Verdi: Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco)Strauss: Four Last SongsHolst: Orchestral Suite - The PlanetsSoloist: Cressida SharpFeaturing the Choir of Hipperholme Grammar School, with theirChorus master Robert Webb

Many guests join us on the stage of the Town Hall for this concert, in a programme of well-loved

works. The Choir of Hipperholme Grammar School sing two well-known choral excerpts of their

own choice in the first half, which follow an overture which will evoke memories of television

viewing for many people. The Overture to William Tell, Rossini's last opera composed in 1829, starts

with a quintet of 'cellos, before winding up to the music used as the theme tune to both The Lone

Ranger and William Tell television programmes.

In contrast, the Four Last Songs of Richard Strauss, also the composer's last work, are settings of

three poems by Hesse and one by Eichendorff published as a set by his publishers only after his

death. Like Grieg, Strauss was married to a singer and learned much about vocal writing from her.

These songs portray a mood of peace and honesty in the evening of life, and the orchestra will be

performing them with Cressida Sharp, first heard on the Town Hall stage in the Prelude and

Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde in February 2013.

Holst's great tone poem, The Planets, remains the best-known of the composer's orchestral works

and one of the most popular amongst concert audiences. The seven movements evoke the character

of the planets: Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Perhaps Mars and Jupiter

are the best-known movements. Specific staging directions are given for Neptune, the choir

remaining off-stage, behind a door which Holst directs to be closed during the very last bar, leaving

the voices fading into nothing - beyond the final frontier.

Concerts in both venues begin at 7.30 pmMUSIC�FROM�AROUND�THE�WORLD

HUDDERS

F

IELDPHILH

ARMONIC

ORCHESTRA

HUDDE

RSFIELDPH

ILHARMON

ICORCHES

TRA

7�December�2013�

in�Huddersfield�Parish�Church

MacCunn: Land of the Mountain and the FloodHoward Blake: The SnowmanLeroy Anderson: Sleigh RideWeber: Bassoon Concerto in F majorDvorák: Symphony No 8 in G majorSoloist: David RobinsonConducted by Kenneth Heeks

Principal Clarinet Kenneth Heeks takes up the conductor's baton for this concert, which begins withhis choice of MacCunn's portrait of Scotland, written in 1887 when the composer was only 19 yearsold. It remains his best-known work. Weber's Bassoon Concerto was written in Munich, after the composer had been banished fromStuttgart for suspected embezzlement in 1810. By 1821, in contrast, Weber was the most popularcomposer in Germany. Our soloist tonight is David Robinson, principal bassoon with the Phil.Dvorák composed his Symphony No 8 in 1889 and, although very different from No 9 (From theNew World), it is a sunny symphony, providing a contrast to our two wintery works in this concert.Anderson's Sleigh Ride was composed in the midst of a July heat wave in 1948, whilst The Snowmanhas become a regular feature of Christmas television viewing.

21�June�2014�

in�Huddersfield�Parish�Church

Beethoven: Overture - CoriolanusTchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D majorBeethoven: Symphony No 8 in F majorSoloist: Rachel Spencer

Tchaikovsky composed his concerto in 1877 for Leopold Auer, who refused to perform it when hesaw the difficulties in the solo part. To our delight, Rachel Spencer (who was born in Leeds andbrought up in Holmfirth) had no hesitation in accepting our invitation to perform the work. Works by Beethoven start and end this concert. The Overture to Coriolanus was composed in 1806,preceding the Symphony No 8 by 7 years. Beethoven himself conducted the first performance inVienna in 1814 and the work shows his sense of humour. The first movement pokes fun at a recentinvention, the metronome, and the scherzo truly lives up to its name. The final movement has a codathat begins earlier than expected and then introduces new ideas rather than closing down old ones.

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MUSIC�FROM�AROUND�THE�WORLDConcerts in both venues begin at 7.30 pm

HUDDER

SF

IELDPHIL

HARM

ONIC

ORCHESTRA

Booking�details

Subscribers please note that subscriptions are now inclusive of tickets for 2 concerts in Huddersfield Parish Church. As in previous years, subscription tickets are not available in Huddersfield Town Hall Gallery. Pleaseuse the seating plan included to indicate your preferred seats, complete the booking form as detailedand return it , with your remittance and s.a.e. to the Ticket and Subscriber Secretary no later than14 September 2013. Your tickets will be despatched to you as soon as possible after that date. Lateapplications will have reduced choice of seats.Subscription for three concerts in Huddersfield Town Hall and two concerts in Huddersfield ParishChurch (all seats unreserved in Parish Church)Balcony £50 (saving £15)Balcony Window £44 (saving £15)Area £40 (saving £16)

Single concert tickets will be on sale from 23 September 2013 from Kirklees box offices(including Huddersfield Visitor Information Centre, Huddersfield Library, Princess Alexandra Walk,Huddersfield HD1 2SU. Tel: 01484 223200. E-mail: huddersfield.information@kirklees.gov.uk. Also Dewsbury Town Hall, Wakefield Old Road, Dewsbury WF12 8DG. Tel: 01924 324516)Alternatively visit our own website at www.huddersfield-phil.org.uk for on-line booking facilities.Balcony £15Balcony Window £13Area £12Gallery £5Huddersfield Parish Church £10 (unreserved seats throughout)

ConcessionsConcessions are available in advance and on the door for all concerts. For Huddersfield Town Hall,concessions apply to Area and Gallery seats only. Senior Citizens and Kirklees Priority Pass holders - Area £11, Gallery £4Children of 18 years and under, and students over that age (upon production of a Student Card)admitted to the Gallery at a cost of £1.For Huddersfield Parish Church concerts, concessionary rates apply throughout - £7.50 - for SeniorCitizens, Kirklees Priority Pass holders and students as above. Children accompanying an adultadmitted free.

Subscription and Ticket SecretaryMr C Leyland, 23 Lane Ings, Marsden, Huddersfield HD7 6JPTel: 01484 844883 & 07811 341484If you are unable to attend a concert and cannot place your tickets elsewhere, please contact theabove, giving your seat numbers as applicable, as soon as possible before the concert.

HUDDERS

F

IELDPHILH

ARMONIC

ORCHESTRA

HUDDERS

F

IELDPHILH

ARMONIC

ORCHESTRA

Seating�Plan

�

Visit�our

website�at

www.huddersfield-phil.org.uk to keep up with all our news aswe move into our new season.

Watch out for details of our newconductor who will be appointedfollowing auditions in September.

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We would like to thank all ouradvertisers and sponsors fortheir support during the lastseason.

The Huddersfield PhilharmonicSociety is a company limited byguarantee, registered number5758494, and a registered charitynumber 1114413.

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Booking�Form

For Subscription MembershipTo: the Subscription and Ticket SecretaryMr C Leyland,23 Lane Ings, Marsden Huddersfield HD7 6JPTel: 01484 844883 or 07811 341484E-mail: candsley@btinternet.com

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Address:...........................................................................................

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Seats required:Balcony

Season tickets @ £50 each..........................................................

Balcony Window

Season tickets @ £44 each..........................................................

Area

Season tickets @ £40....................................................................

Total:..................................................................................................

All subscriptions include unreserved seats for 2 concertsin Huddersfield Parish Church

Please make cheques payable to Huddersfield PhilharmonicSociety

Please help the Society to reduce costs by enclosing as.a.e. with all applications.

Please tick if a new subscriber

HUDDERS

F

IELDPHILH

ARMONIC

ORCHESTRA

Directors

and�Officers

2013-2014

PresidentGraham Smelt

Honorary Life Vice-PresidentStuart Sandys

General SecretaryDebbie Adams

Treasurer and CompanySecretaryAlastair Cridland

Orchestra LeaderMary Barber

Membership OfficerBart Naughton

Player RepresentativeMike Briggs

Non-executive DirectorPeter Lewis

Ticket and Subscriber SecretaryChris Leyland

Publicity ManagerRuth M Holmes

Digital Media ManagerFionnuala Donnelly