Concert

Born in Paris into an artistic family, Louise Farrenc was precociously musically talented, both as a pianist and a composer. Married at 17, she toured Europe as accompanist to her flautist husband, but they ultimately returned to Paris, where Louise established a career as a pianist and professor of piano at the Paris Conservatoire. Her Overture no. 2 in Eb (1834) is a lively and tuneful work in the operatic style of the time.

We welcome award-winning violinist Mabelle Park to perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto (1939), surely one of the most captivating of 20th century violin concertos. The path to the concerto’s premiere was beset by delays, difficulties, and temperamental soloists; Barber had only finished two movements by the original deadline. These are beautifully lyrical and romantic, without sounding old-fashioned, but the intended soloist thought that the violin part wasn’t sensational enough. Barber’s response was to write a four minute finale of dazzling difficulty.

The title of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no.6, the Pathétique, should be interpreted as meaning ‘passionate’ or ‘heartfelt’, rather than ‘pathetic’. Completed in 1893, it was premiered in St Petersburg that October; Tchaikovsky died nine days later. He knew that it was a winner, having written to his brother ‘I believe it comes into being as the best of my works’. Not a bad note to end on.

Ticket Information

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