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In describing his own Les Illuminations, Benjamin Britten wrote, "The word ‘illuminations’ suggests both the vision of a mystic and a brightly coloured picture". It is this sense of a technicolour canvas that we invoke in ILLUMINATE, our first program of 2021, featuring works by Bruch, Britten and Tchaikovsky.
Jacqueline Porter | Soprano (photo credit: Milk Photography)
Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence begins in the tranquil air of the Mediterranean before taking us directly to the Motherland, its fourth and final movement intensely Russian and Romantic in its sound. Max Bruch's Serenade for Strings after Swedish Melodies is a seldom-heard but beautiful example of his life-long attraction to folk tunes and themes. And Britten's work couples some of his most remarkable string writing with the words of French poet Arthur Rimbaud to create something evocative and fantastical.
Directed by Rachael Beesley and featuring soprano Jacqueline Porter, Illuminate invites you to join the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra on a European musical journey from the comfort of the concert hall.
“As always, ARCO offered an intelligent and warm performance, demonstrating the importance of historically informed musicianship and showcasing the impact of period instruments with gut strings.”
ArtsHub, July 2020
ILLUMINATE | BRUCH, BRITTEN & TCHAIKOVSKY
Tuesday 16 February | 6.30pm
R J Phipps Performance Centre
The Hills Grammar School
43 Kenthurst Road, Kenthurst
Tickets $25 - $65
ILLUMINATE | BRUCH, BRITTEN & TCHAIKOVSKY
Thursday 18 February | 7.30pm
Newcastle City Hall Concert Hall
290 King Street, Newcastle
Tickets $26 - $66
ILLUMINATE | BRUCH, BRITTEN & TCHAIKOVSKY
Friday 19 February | 7.00pm
City Recital Hall
2 Angel Place, Sydney
Tickets $25 - $120
ILLUMINATE | BRUCH, BRITTEN & TCHAIKOVSKY
Monday 22 February | 7.30pm
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Melbourne Recital Centre
Combine ILLUMINATE | BRUCH, BRITTEN & TCHAIKOVSKY with VOYAGE OF MUSICAL DISCOVERY 1 – MOTIVIC DEVELOPMENT with guest artist Nick Russoniello.
Wednesday 17 February | 6.30pm
Friday 19 February 2021 | 7.00pm
City Recital Hall
2 Angel Place, Sydney
ARTISTS
Australian Romantic &
Classical Orchestra
Rachael Beesley | director
Jacqueline Porter | soprano
PROGRAM
Max Bruch
Serenade for Strings after Swedish Melodies
Benjamin Britten
Les Illuminations
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Souvenir de Florence, Op.70
Click here to watch a pre-concert talk from our artistic advisor, Neal Peres Da Costa. Neal discusses the performance practices of Bruch and Tchaikovsky’s time, and uses historical sound recordings to demonstrate how these composers might have expected their works to be performed.
Click here to read our ILLUMINATE concert program.
Click here to read an interview with Jacqueline Porter where she talks about Britten’s music, Rimbaud’s poetry, and the joys of performing again after an interrupted 2020!
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra is a registered COVID-19 Safe Organisation, is committed to maintaining a safe environment, and will continue to apply Public Health Orders in all relevant states and territories as they relate to ticketing and seating arrangements for public events. Please check back for the latest updates on eventual COVID-19 restrictions.