Beethoven 2020: The Next Generation
Royal Northern Sinfonia Return to Teesside
for Beethoven Retrospective
Following the successful launch of Royal
Northern Sinfonia’s Beethoven-themed concert series in January, the
celebrated orchestra is returning to Middlesbrough Town Hall for their second
instalment of celebrations for the iconic composer’s 250th birth
anniversary.
With Symphonies No. 1 and No. 3 having
already been performed to acclaim in the first concert of the series, Thursday
19th of March will see RNS perform Symphony No. 2 along with
one of Classical Music’s most well-known and universally admired pieces, Beethoven’s
Fifth Symphony.
People of all ages will be familiar
with this landmark piece of music, with the opening four notes being quoted
across classical and popular compositions, referenced in television and film,
and famously serving as the opening for BBC Radio broadcasts during the Second
World War.
Led by celebrated conductor, Marta
Gardolińska, this is a rare opportunity to experience this iconic piece of
music in a live setting, performed by one of the country’s leading classical
orchestras.
Commenting on the forthcoming performance,
Gardolińska said:
“I have been very much enjoying
re-exploring the world of Beethoven's symphonies in preparation for this
concert. It is a fascinating experience to dive into his language and trace how
it developed from early signs of strong musical character in the 2nd symphony
to the revolutionary dramatism of the 5th. I can't wait to
share this with the orchestra and audiences of our concerts.”
Accompanying the two symphonies will
be a brand-new commission from Nora Marazaite, winner of the Royal Northern
Sinfonia’s Young Composer Competition.
Speaking of the debut of her latest
composition, the 25-year-old composer said:
“I can’t wait to hear my own piece
premiered alongside Beethoven’s Second and Fifth Symphonies.
“The audience can expect an intense
emotional musical journey from the evening, especially with the performance of
Beethoven’s Fifth ending the concert.”
Gardolińska added: “I
think juxtaposing Beethoven’s music with a fresh composition by a young
composer who drew inspiration from his techniques will shine a new light on the
symphonies.
“Needless to say, experiencing a
premiere of a brand-new piece of music is always an extraordinary privilege as
it invites us to listen in a different, unbiased way.”
Produced with the
support of the EU funded platform, Classical Futures Europe, this
concert series puts Beethoven’s work in the hands of the next generation of
conductors and composers, with the aim of introducing a new audience to
Beethoven’s work and demonstrate how the composer continues to be relevant
today.
Commenting on the
relevance of Beethoven in the 21st Century, Gardolińska said:
“Beethoven was a volcano
of creative energy and a bold, unapologetic composer, and is relevant today
because of the universality of his ideas.
“He strived for creative
and social freedom and was unapologetic about it. He composed from a place of
great integrity and faithfulness to his ideals, always striving to innovate and
explore.
“In the 21st century we
have understood and put a lot of weight on the importance of being creative for
individuals as well as for societies. Beethoven as a composer is a role model
for anyone wanting to be creative.”
Marazaite continued: “I believe that
Beethoven's works will remain relevant for a very long time as they hold such a
significant position in the symphonic repertoire.
“Even as tastes change
with time, the compositional technique and innovation means the works continue
to captivate audiences as well as be an important source of research and
analysis.”
Hailing from Lithuania, the young
composer draws on the compositional style of Beethoven along with elements of
the traditional music of her home country to create something altogether
unique.
Marazaite commented on
her approach to this commision: “As a starting point, I chose some elements of Beethoven's
Symphonies that were quintessentially his, such as the use of extreme
contrasts, juxtaposing materials and textures.
“I then used fragments
of traditional Lithuanian songs as a starting point for the melodic themes and
developed these ideas in three small movements.”
Taking place within the
recently renovated Main Hall, this event will be reminiscent of Middlesbrough
Town Hall’s early history, when the venue played host to a number of now iconic
classical artists, including Russian
pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninov, Austrian composer Johann
Strauss and Sir Edward Elgar.
Beethoven 2020: The Next
Generation will take place on the 19th March at Middlesbrough Town
Hall.
Tickets
are priced at £21.00 - £26.00 (+ booking fee).
To
book tickets, call the box office on 01642 729 729 or visit Middlesbrough Town
Hall’s website: https://www.middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk/event/royal-northern-sinfonia/
(Press release from JAC
Media Online Ltd, Albion House, Stepney
Bank, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2NP)
