Details
St Nicholas' Chapel
St Ann's Street
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 1LT
England
Programme
Bedřich Smetana – Ma Vlast: Vltava 'The Moldau'
Antonin Dvorak – Czech Suite, Op.39
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade, Op.35
Performers
Philip Hesketh – Conductor
Philippa Barton – Leader
Norfolk Symphony Orchestra
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
It is said that “every Czech is born with a violin under their pillow”. Certainly, the music of the two greatest Czech composers of the C19th, Smetana and Dvořák, seems to bear this out. It is radiant and warm, melodic and lyrical and seems to embody the both beauty and tranquillity of the Czech countryside and the amiability and good humour of its people.
Smetana was inspired to create a Czech repertoire of music in as many forms as he could. As well as operas in many genres, he wrote his great set of symphonic poems, Ma Vlast (My Country), and the first of these, Vltava (The Moldau) is perhaps his best-known work. It depicts a journey down the great river Vltava from its two small, interweaving springs to its greatness in Prague, passing a wedding, mermaids, castles and rapids on the way.
Dvořák was also deeply inspired by the music of his home but wrote in traditional forms – his many symphonies, quartets and concertos are great favourites. However, much of his most characteristic music is contained in the Serenades, Suites, Dances and Rhapsodies. The Czech Suite resembles closely his two great Serenades and is redolent with folk music.
The major work in the concert must be one of the most popular orchestral pieces ever written. Rimsky-Korsakov was one of the greatest orchestrators, second only, perhaps, to Ravel in his ability to dazzle and seduce with sound. His Suite Scheherazade is based on One Thousand and One Nights with the solo violin as the voice of Shahrazad, telling the king stories each evening to save her life. It is sensuous, threatening, exhilarating and majestic.