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Newsletter for July 2009

This is an edited version of the Havant Orchestras newsletter which is provided in printed form to players and Friends of the Orchestra.

From the Chairman ...

Welcome to the last concert of the season and the wonderful Second Piano Concerto of Brahms (with a special treat for cellos in the slow movement) framed by two less familiar but very approachable works.  After the concert over a drink in the bar you can let us know how you liked them.  Sadly Jessica Cottis, our Bob Harding Bursary-holder will not be with us but it is for a good reason – she has made it through to the final rounds of the prestigious Leeds Conductors’ Competition which culminate on the night of our concert.  We wish her every success.

Once the concert is out of the way we immediately start on next season by appointing the new Bob Harding Bursary-holder after the audition on Friday 10 July.  We hope to see many of the Friends of the Orchestras at this very special and enjoyable occasion.

Then after what I hope will be a restoring and enjoyable summer for all we start in earnest with the AGM on 4 September (details below).  This is open to all members i.e. playing members and season ticket holders.  I should like to thank the outgoing committee for all their work during the season.  They have all indicated their willingness  to stand for re-election but we would welcome ‘fresh blood’.  If you think you could help in this way or have any suggestions for new people to join the committee please have a word with me.  Nominations can be made at any time from now until the meeting itself.

... and then we can look forward to a very popular concert – hopefully a sell-out – at Hayling Island on 19 September.  (Tickets on sale on Saturday.)

See you all on Saturday and then have a splendid summer and return thirsty for another season’s wonderful music.

Tony Gutteridge

Ferneham Hall, Saturday 4 July

6.30 The Pre-concert talk by Angela Blackwell on Berwald’s singular Symphony No 3 in the auditorium – all welcome
and Pre-concert activity for younger listeners – Becky will be bringing lots of NOISE-making musical instruments – come and see!
7.00 COLLECT YOUR NEW SEASON TICKETS.  (or book them if you haven’t ordered them yet) – Margaret will have them in the Meon
and Interlude of Relaxing Music for a Summer’s Evening
and Books, Miniature Scores, Sheet Music and CDs for Sale in the Meon
and Collect some 09-10 Brochures from the Foyer Table to give to your friends
7.30 The Concert
Overture on 3 Russian Themes  Balakirev
Piano Concerto No 2 
Soloist:  Alexander Karpeyev 
Brahms 
Interval - 20 minutes
Symphony No 3 in C, Sinfonie singulière  Berwald
9.30 approx end of concert

The BAR will be open so please join your friends and the players for an end of season celebration.

... then have a safe journey home

Notes from the Conductor ...

A very warm ‘Thank you’ for all the recovery good wishes I have received from players and supporters.  The hip operation went well and I am now in the process of activating this lumbering mass into more adventurous moves.  The tapping crutches are now tacet but the tennis racquet still lies unplayed and is dying to zing again.  It’s hard to be patient with all this lovely sunshine and beautiful grass courts awaiting!

Thank goodness for the calming influence of music - apropos of which the last few weeks have been a nightmare!:

  • Missing players both for the concert and the Bursary Auditions on 10th July (frenzied activity trying to replace them);
  • Missing current Bursary Holder at rehearsals (and we’re still not certain at this stage whether Jessica can conduct the Balakirev Overture); ** See update at end of newsletter. 
  • Detailed forward-planning for the Hayling concert in September and uncertainty over the conductor and soloist;
  • Vital music going unaccountably missing in the post;
  • Finalising the programme for the 2010-2011 season - currently at Mark IV version!;
  • Etc, etc, etc.!!!

The playing itself is the only brief access to balm! - and Saturday’s programme is balmier than most, just right for a lazy summers evening.

Balakirev’s genial Overture (composed in 1858) is a finely crafted example of basic nationalism – a medley of folk tunes, cleverly integrated and colourfully orchestrated.  Two of the Russian folksongs later found their way into Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony (1877) and Stravinsky’s ‘Petrushka’ ballet of 1912 (hidden away in a mind-boggling number entitled ‘Wet Nurses’ Dance’).

Brahms’ mighty and majestic 2nd Piano Concerto has many moments of gentle repose but especially in the beautiful 3rd movement Andante with its wonderful cello solo.

Whilst we are sad that immigration restrictions have caused the withdrawal of our initial American soloist, Andrew Brownell, we are delighted that the Guildhall School of Music Gold Medal finalist, Alexander Karpeyev has been able to take his place, a real treat in store albeit in a change of concerto - but No 1 follows in March.

Our final symphony of the season falls very much into the ‘relaxed listening’ category.  Berwald’s ‘Sinfonie singulière’ could equally well have been entitled ‘Sinfonie pastorale’.  This is not to say that the music is lacking in drive or drama but your prevailing afterthoughts will be of lyrical singing melodies and soft warm harmonies.  Sweden’s most significant composer makes a strong symphonic point without the need for a clenched fist.

A slightly smaller string strength and the absence of tuba, percussion and harp for the concert means a little more space and a greater degree of playing comfort on stage - always appreciated by the performers. 

Peter Craddock

A message for The Friends

Dear ‘Friends’

We are at the end of another enjoyable season of music and once again thank you for your support.

I look forward to seeing you at the concert on Saturday and again at the Bursary evening starting at 7.00pm at St Faith’s Church Hall in The Pallant at Havant on the following Friday (10 July).

Kindest regards,

BH, Friends’ Secretary.

UPBEAT

Hello Everyone!

See above for details of Saturday’s NOISY meeting - all will be revealed on the night!

We are STILL tabulating the replies to the Questionnaire from the May concert and will base our plans for next season on the results so please watch out for news in the October Newsletter.  Don’t forget that next season Upbeat will meet at all the Havant Orchestras concerts and we plan to have an additional presenter and lots of exciting activities.

Hope you remembered the Portsmouth Schools Music Festival is this week at The Guildhall  I’ve been so busy with rehearsals that I wasn’t able to send the Editor any more copy.  See you all on Saturday.

Thank you ...

... to all the players in both Orchestras for all their hard work in preparing and performing the music to such a high degree;

... to our audiences for supporting the players and appreciating their hard work;

... to everyone who is involved ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘front of house’ in making the concerts even more enjoyable

and especially ... to our amazing floral artist, Heather Kille for the beautiful designs she creates to compliment the music.

Volunteer(s) needed URGENTLY

Would you like to listen to HSO rehearsing?

Are you free on (some) Friday evenings between 7.15 and 9.00 or even 7.00 to 9.30?

Do you like making tea and coffee?

If you answer ‘yes’ to all these questions, the players of HSO would like your help, please.

The reason is that after many years of Sylvia Mundy’s (and previously her husband, Leslie) preparing and serving the players’ rehearsal coffee, this era will end after the rehearsal on 3rd July.  HSO is so grateful to them both - and especially Sylvia - for looking after this really welcome break and chance to meet socially for a short time that they want to say a very loud ‘Thank You’ to her and Leslie.

But the players are also shouting out to you - ‘We need someone or some more people to take on the not-onerous task, please’.

There are a few others who help out from time to time when Sylvia has been otherwise engaged so you won’t be expected to come every week (unless you would like to!) and help and advice will be willingly offered.  So, please contact Tony to talk over when you can start.

HSO’s future comfort depends on you!  (Don’t forget you can sit-in on rehearsals too.)

Formal Notice of AGM

The 41st Annual General Meeting of Havant and District Orchestral Society will take place on Friday, 4 September, 2009 at 7.00pm at St Faith's Church Hall, The Pallant, Havant.

Agendas & Annual Financial Reports are available from the Secretary in advance or at the hall on the night.

All Members of the Orchestral Society, Playing and Non-playing, which includes SEASON TICKET HOLDERS, are eligible and welcome to attend.

Refreshments will be served and the evening will conclude with a rehearsal to which Non-playing members are invited.

Nominations for election to the Committee may be sent to the Chairman in advance (with the names of candidate, proposer and seconder) or submitted at the meeting.  Places are available on the Committee.  If you would like to join us and feel that you could fill a useful role, please let Tony or Sandra know so that you can be nominated.

Hayling Island Concert

Saturday 19 September at 7.30pm

Hayling Island Community Centre

Havant Symphony Orchestra

Overture Die Fledermaus  Strauss
Piano Concerto No 1  Tchaikovsky
Symphony No 9  Dvořák

Tickets:  £9.00; 
Children/students - £3.00
Senior Citizens & Orch Soc Members - £7.00

on sale at:  Ferneham Hall - 4 July & St Faith’s - 10 July; in person from HICC; and HI Bookshop, Mengham

and

by post from 1, Beacon Square, Emsworth, PO10 7HU (+sae) from early August.  Cheques payable to HADOS, please.

NB Do buy your tickets soon - it will be a special evening whatever is played and by whom!

CDs for the October concert

Sourced by GE

Dvořák  Czech Suite
Detroit SO  /  Dorati  c/w Symphony No 9 and Prague Waltzes
Decca Eclipse 448245-2  Bargain  price

Mozart  Piano Concerto No 22 in E flat, K482
Jonathan Bliss/ Orpheus C O
c/w Concerto No 21 in C, K 467
EMI 575655-2217270-2 discs  Full price

Schubert  Symphony No 3 in D
RPO / Beecham
c/w Symphonies Nos 5 and 6
EMI 566984-2 Mid price

Bursary Holders’ Updates

A long email from Ben Pope (91-92) brought news of his life and family.  Sally and he now have two children - Harry (8) wants to be a rock star(!) and Alice (5) is also musical.  Ben is still working with Matthew Bourne, the Royal and English National Ballets and eight or more ballet companies throughout the world!  He’s also worked with numerous British and European orchestras and will be at the Edinburgh Festival in August and in Japan in the Autumn.  In spite of this hectic life he mentioned that he would be happy to be of assistance to our Orchestras if needed and he were free.

Sarah Ioannides (94-95) is now Music Director of El Paso SO and Spartanburg PO in USA following some time working with the composer Tan Dun and previously with the Cincinnati SO.  Her debut CD with the RPO was released last year.  www.sarahioannides.net gives her details.

Other Music in our Area

Saturday 11 July at 7.30pm

St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Osborn Road, Fareham
FAREHAM PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
Summer Inspirations - in aid of Naomi House
Music from sacred to secular, spiritual to popular
Tickets £6.00 adults;  £3 children
Box Office 01329-664948; or on the night

Saturday 11 July at 7.30pm

St Thomas' Cathedral, Old Portsmouth
The Renaissance Choir
OF A ROSE - Music by Rutter, Poulenc, Delibes and Elgar plus solos by Karen Kingsley
Tickets £12 & £10; students £2.  From the Cathedral bookshop; by phone 023 9247 5259 or on the door.


Petworth Festival 17 July - 2 August

Various venues in the locality featuring international names.  This one caught the Editor’s eye:

Saturday 18 July at noon

John McCabe, (piano) joins the Sacconi String Quartet in a performance of his Piano Quintet.  John has played concertos with us and HSO performed his Notturni ed Alba in July 1990 in a programme including Mahler’s 4th Symphony - soprano soloist in both works was Jill Gomez.

Full details of all events at: www.petworth.org.uk and brochures in the foyer on Saturday.


Chichester Festivities until 12 July

Events featuring familiar names ….

Friday 3 July 1.10pm at St John’s Chapel

Viv McLean, piano recital - Schubert and Chopin

Sunday 5 July 7:30pm at St Paul’s Church

The Consort of Twelve

Handel, Hayes and Purcell

Friday 10 July 10.30am

Merchant String Quartet + Norbert Blume, viola

Gade  Quintet in E minor

Saturday 11 July

Music for a Summer’s Evening

Including Jacqueline Fugelle and Susan Legg, sopranos

Full details of all events at: www.chifest.org.uk

Tickets from 01243 780192.

Society Contact Details are on Page 46 of the Programme Book.

Contact information can also be found on the Contacts page within this web site.

** Update!

You will have noticed a discrepancy about the possibility of Jessica’s appearance on Saturday – this was caused by information not available when Peter prepared his article. 

We regret that Jessica will not be with us this evening but are delighted that she was selected to take part in the final rounds of the prestigious Leeds Conductors’ Competition which culminate this evening.  In addition she has been appointed Assistant Conductor to Donald Runnicles at the BBC Scottish SO, working with the Orchestra and Scottish Opera and has been made Conducting Fellow at RSAMD (the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama).  Congratulations!

Consequently, Peter will make a welcome return to the podium and will conduct the complete programme. 


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