Our season begins with a flourish, featuring works from Finland that span more than a century. The short tone poem ‘Finlandia’ was written in 1899 to promote a sense of patriotic pride in the face of Russian oppression. With dramatic orchestral writing and wonderful melodies, including a sublime chorale, this piece firmly established Sibelius as a worthy successor to Tchaikovsky.
International prize-winning clarinettist Anna Hashimoto is our soloist for Magnus Lindberg’s extravagant, virtuosic clarinet concerto. Completed in 2002, the concerto was described by BBC Music magazine as “contemporary in language, yet sensuously easy (tuneful, even) on the ear.” Ranging from rhapsodic and ethereal to jazzy and majestic, this work takes us on a journey through a magical world of sound and colour.
Sibelius’s Symphony no.1 in E minor (1899) brought him international acclaim and set him on the path to becoming Finland’s ‘national treasure’, as well as making a significant contribution to the development of symphonic form. The haunting melodies and folk-like tonalities of this work, combined with his trademark rich, layered orchestral textures, beautifully illustrate Sibelius’s unmistakable style.
more about City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
The City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra started life in 1973 as the Harston String Orchestra. Later, as a result of a change in venue, it became the Barton String Orchestra. In 2000 Leon Lovett took over as conductor and shortly afterwards, the orchestra changed its name to the Cambridge String Players. Under his baton, the orchestra has appeared regularly in West Road Concert Hall and in other venues around Cambridge. In addition to playing works for strings, the orchestra increasingly invited wind players to join it to perform works from the symphonic repertoire. Recognising this change of emphasis, the musicians decided that the orchestra needed a new name and in September 2008, it became the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. In February 2012 Robert Hodge became CCSO’s new conductor.