Conservatorium of Music
Thursday Concert Class
Thursday Concert Class
| Phoenix for flute and orchestra | John Carmichael (1930 - ) |
| 1. Lento | |
| Wil Rigby, Flute | |
| Rhodri Clarke, piano | |
| This concerto, premiered by James Galway and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1980 is based on the ancient myth of the Phoenix - a bird that lives for centuries before dying on its own funeral pyre in flames. It then bursts back to life to start its cycle all over again.\r\n\r\nBeing performed today is the first movement which represents the last days of the phoenix life cycle. There is a certain melancholy to this movement which is highlighted by it primarily being in Eb minor. | |
| Piano Concerto No.2 | Chopin (1810 - 1849) |
| 1st Movement | |
| Yuhao Yan, Piano | |
| Rhodri Clarke, piano | |
| This F minor concerto was actually the first piano concerto Chopin composed. | |
| Concerto pour saxophone alto et orchestra | Henri Tomasi (1901 - 1971) |
| I - Andante Et Allegro | |
| Mitchell Flynn, Saxophone | |
| Prix De Rome winner Henri Tomasi composed this work as a Paris Conservatoire contest piece, dedicated to French saxophonist Marcel Mule who later gave the premier that year. The opening movement, "Andante Et Allegro", has two movements within itself. The Andante section starts with a slow, sombre opening statement by the soloist, which slowly expands to reveal a rich sonorous pallet. Following this is the Allegro, which draws material from the Andante section and expands upon it in various melodic and motivic ways. | |
| In the Silence of the Night | Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943) |
| Kristin Astouroghlian, Voice | |
| Rhodri Clarke, piano | |
| In the silence of the night, the lover surrenders to nostalgia, emotions and memories of the beloved. Imagination takes over to recreate the features of a lover far from reaching. | |
| The Soldier\'s Wife | Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943) |
| Kristin Astouroghlian, Voice | |
| Rhodri Clarke, piano | |
| How would it feel to be the wife of a dead soldier? When times changes the fate of a lover, a wife, into a broken hearted widow. She cries out about her fate remembering how powerful people and circumstances directed her husband to the fight field. How would life of a soldier's wife be? | |
| Zueignung | Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949) |
| Kristin Astouroghlian, Voice | |
| Rhodri Clarke, piano | |
| Translated to 'Devotion', the poetry and music of this piece show us the beauty in the appreciation of one's pure love and gratitude, the beauty of sharing such feelings with a beloved. | |
| Sonata in A major | Cesar Franck (1822 - 1890) |
| Arranged by Jean-Pierre Rampal & Robert Casadesus | |
| Movements 1 (Allegretto ben moderato) & 4 (Allegretto poco mosso) | |
| Molly Jenkins, Flute | |
| Rhodri Clarke, piano | |
| Originally written for violin, this sonata was Franck\\\'s wedding gift to Eugene Ysaye who continued to perform it for 40 years to come. The opening movement is gentle and contemplative, with the thematic material being the basis of the entire work. This will be followed by the fourth and final movement which mirrors the beautiful simplicity of the first movement with a joyful and soaring melody. | |
| Miroirs | Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) |
| I. Noctuelles IV. Alborada del gracioso | |
| Rachel Shindang, Piano | |
| Composed between 1904-1905, the each movements of this five-movement suite for solo piano were dedicated to the members of the French avant-garde artist group that Ravel was part of, Les Apaches. The first movement; Noctuelles, translating to 'Night Moths', is full of chromaticism and chordal melodies. The fourth movement, Alborada del gracioso - 'The Jester's Aubade', incorporates Spanish musical themes. | |