We start amongst the shadowy landscapes of Northern Europe in Sibelius’s tone poem, Pohjola’s Daughter – its rich orchestration and charming cast of melodies depicting the troublesome pursuits of the great hero Väinämöinen as he attempts to win the trust of the fabled daughter of the North. Then, abandoning the mortal realm, a bewitchingly intense journey from one extreme to another in Gubaidulina’s ‘In Tempus Praesens’, a violin concerto which sees Tobias Feldmann deliver us from the murk of Hell to the heights of Heaven. Finally, brightness and bliss in Rautavaara’s Seventh Symphony, ‘Angel of Light’, an auroral tapestry of his childhood memories, prized for its deep spirituality.
Pre-concert entertainment
6.30pm In Stalls Café Bar
Ahead of the concert, Royal Northern College of Music students Jess Hopkins, Ruby Hendy, Siân Davies and Nico de Villiers will be performing in the Stalls Café Bar. The students are part of the RNCM Songsters.
The RNCM Songsters are a specially selected group of students at the RNCM - singers and pianists who are passionate about, and excel in the performance of art song. They perform in bespoke and innovative recital programmes of song at both events within the college, and at various other musical organisations and venues. They have performed for many music societies across the United Kingdom, as well as at a number of leading festivals of song, including Leeds Lieder and Manchester Song Festival. In 2019 they collaborated with pianist David Owen Norris on a recording project of the art songs of Arthur Sullivan. As part of their training, they get the opportunity to work with visiting tutors specialising in art song repertoire, including Julius Drake, Roderick WIlliams, Richard Stokes, Alice Coote, and David Owen Norris. The Artistic Director of the RNCM Songsters is Jonathan Fisher.
Pre-concert programme
Jess Hopkins / soprano
Delius: Twilight Fancies
Delius: Sweet Venevil
Ruby Hendry / soprano
Grieg: Sechs Lieder, Op. 48
Jess Hopkins / soprano
Sibelius: Arioso, Op. 3
Sibelius: Var det en dröm
Siân Davies / mezzo
Strauss: Traum durch die dämmerung
Strauss: Die Nacht
Quilter: Love’s Philosophy
Elgar: Pleading, Op. 48
Walton: Old Sir Faulk
Jess Hopkins (soprano)
Sian Davies (mezzo)
Ruby Hendy (mezzo)
Nico de Villiers (piano)
The students appear by kind permission of the RNCM.