Conservatorium of Music
Thursday Concert Class
Thursday Concert Class
| The Mikado | W. S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan (1842 - 1900) |
| Alone and yet alive | |
| Alexandra Amerides, Voice | |
| Jacob Abela, piano | |
| Katisha is a strictly conservative noblewoman who gives very little away. This aria in the second act is the first time we see Katisha in private, where she is at her most open and vulnerable. If performed successfully, the humanity of Katisha transforms her from the character audiences loves to hate, to the one they hate to love. | |
| Allegro MaestosoOp. 58 nr 2 | Jan Koetsier (1911 - 2006) |
| James Robert Littlewood, Bass Trombone | |
| Jacob Abela, piano | |
| Allegro Maestoso is a powerful piece for a recital. Koetsier's writing is idiomatic and the piece is extremely satisfying to both play and listen to. It is a rondeau that switches back and forth between a strong opening theme, a singing, lyrical section and a challenging technical section. The piece fully exploits the strengths of the bass trombone. - Denson Paul Pollard, Bass Trombonist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. | |
| Sonata for Flute and Piano op 64 | Mel Bonis (1858 - 1937) |
| i. Andantino con Moto ii. Scherzo Vivace iii. Adagio iv. Finale-Moderato | |
| Sean Edward Paul Marantelli, Flute | |
| Jacob Abela, piano | |
| Bonis was born to a Parisian lower-middle-class family and was educated according to the strict norms of the Catholic morality of the time. Of great talent and musical sensitivity, she taught herself the piano. At the age of sixteen she began her studies at the prestigious Conservatoire, and attended the accompaniment, harmony and composition classes, where she shared the benches with Claude Debussy and Gabriel Pierné. | |
| String Quartet No. 3 in F major p. 73 | Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975) |
| I. Allegretto III. Allegro non troppo | |
| Oscar Woinarski, cello | |
| Louise May - Violin Amy You - Violin Aidan Filshie - Viola Oscar Woinarski - Cello | |
| On December 16th 1946, Shostakovich's 3rd string quartet received its first performance in Moscow. It was performed by the Beethoven Quartet to whom this work is dedicated to. Presented as a "war quartet", Shostakovich supported the idea of labelling each movement with its own subtleties. The 1st and 3rd movements are labelled respectively as "calm unawareness of future cataclysm" and "the forces of war unleashed". After its debut, Shostakovich was quick to remove these labels after the criticism he received from authorities regarding his 9th symphony. Despite this, Shostakovich's 3rd string quartet is full of life character and life. | |
| Come Sleep | Peggy Glanville Hicks (1912 - 1990) |
| Leah Phillips, Voice | |
| Jacob Abela, piano | |
| Peggy Glanville-Hicks won an international reputation as composer and was the first, among the few women in this field to achieve such distinction. 'Come Sleep' is one of Glanville-Hicks' most well known songs for voice and piano. The poem is by John Fletcher. Come, Sleep, and with thy sweet deceiving Lock me in delight awhile; Let some pleasing dreams beguile All my fancies; that from thence I may feel an influence All my powers of care bereaving. Though but a shadow, but a sliding, Let me know some little joy! We that suffer long annoy Are contented with a thought Through an idle fancy wrought O let my joys have some abiding! | |
| Als die alte Mutter, from B. 104, Op. 55 | Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841 - 1904) |
| Leah Phillips, Voice | |
| Jacob Abela, piano | |
| Gypsy Songs (Czech Cikánské melodie) is one of Dvořák's most famous song cycles written for voice and piano. "Als die alte Mutter" or "Songs My Mother Taught Me," is the fourth piece in the cycle and is commonly performed as a stand along piece in recital. Songs my mother taught me In the days long vanished Seldom from her eyelids Were the teardrops banished Now I teach my children Each melodious measure Oft the tears are flowing Oft they flow from my memories treasure | |