Concert (preceded by a free lecture)

Farrenc: Overture no.1   Beethoven: Piano Concerto no.5   Dvorak: Symphony no.8

Born in 1904, the French concert pianist Louise Farrenc spent her early career touring Europe with her flautist husband Aristide. In the 1930s, tired of travelling, they set up a publishing house in Paris, and Louise turned her hand to composition.  Her output included three symphonies and two orchestral overtures. Overture no. 1 in E minor is an accomplished and appealing work in the Viennese classical tradition, blending lively string writing with melodic woodwind solos and rich brass colour.

Beeethoven’s piano concerto no. 5 is considered by many to be the epitome of musical and technical brilliance in solo concerto form.  Donald Francis Tovey encapsulates it thus: “The orchestra is not only symphonic, but is enabled by the very necessity of accompanying the solo lightly to produce ethereal orchestral effects that are in quite a different category from anything in [Beethoven’s] symphonies. On the other hand, the solo part develops the technique of its instrument with a freedom and brilliance for which Beethoven has no leisure in sonatas and chamber music.” Truly a masterwork.

Dvorak’s 8th Symphony is surely his most joyful. Whether inspiration came from his growing international success, his beloved national heritage of folk songs and dances, or the peace and tranquillity of the country retreat where he worked, is somewhat academic; the music is gorgeous and supremely uplifting.

Join us for a free pre-concert lecture by Professor Jim Woodhouse from 6:30pm to 7:00pm

The screeching produced by children starting out on the violin has curdled the blood of many a parent over the centuries. A pre-concert talk at the Science Festival asks what science can tell us about the question “why the violin is so hard to play?”.

It was as a mathematics undergraduate in the early 1970s that Jim Woodhouse came across Cambridge’s amateur violin making workshop. Always a keen ‘maker’ of things, Woodhouse developed a love of crafting string instruments that quickly spilled into his academic life, as he went on to do a PhD at the University in noise and vibration theories – focusing on the violin.

Please note that bookings for this event are separate from the concert that follows. If you wish to attend the concert, please purchase the concert tickets too.

Ticket Information

Admission: £20, £10 (students), £6 (under 14)