230520 Cambridge Philharmonic

Programme

Tchaikovsky - Hamlet Overture

Shostakovich - Hamlet Suite

INTERVAL

Tchaikovsky - Fantasy Overture to Romeo & Juliet

Bernstein - Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’

Two hours including interval

Performers

Anna Tolputt - actor

Lucy Hollins - conductor

Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra

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Our Principal Guest Conductor Lucy Hollins leads the orchestra through a programme of Shakespearean adaptations, accompanied by excerpts from some of the Bard’s most beloved plays.

Tchaikovsky’s Hamlet Overture and Shostakovich’s Hamlet Suite paint the twists and turns of Shakespeare’s tragedy in two contrasting musical landscapes. Tchaikovsky’s overture sears with a brooding intensity reminiscent of the Fifth Symphony, whilst Shostakovich’s film score – here in the form of an eight-movement suite – brings a visceral modernity to the drama. Something is indeed rotten in the state of Denmark…

In the second half, Tchaikovsky’s high Romanticism combines with Leonard Bernstein’s jazz-infused Broadway sound-world to create contrasting musical depictions of Romeo and Juliet. Whilst the Russian composer seeks to depict old Verona in the opening chorale, Bernstein transplants the story into 1950s New York, with ground-breaking results.

more about Cambridge Philharmonic

Cambridge Philharmonic is one of the oldest and most distinguished music societies, being founded in 1887, drawing auditioned musicians and a large chorus from in and around the Cambridge area. Under the direction of Music Director, Harry Sever, Cambridge Philharmonic performs a wide range of repertoire as part of its annual concert series, including an opera, family concert, classical and contemporary works. Find out more at cambridgephilharmonic.com