Vector Wellington Orchestra presents "Unfinished Symphonies"

Vector Wellington Orchestra: UNFINISHED SYMPHONIES

Wellington Masterton
Saturday 23 JULY Friday 22 July
Wellington Town Hall 7.30pm Masterton Town Hall 7.30pm

Schubert: Unfinished Symphony
Mozart: Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor, K. 491
Mozart: Aria, Ch’io mi scordi di te? K 505
Berio: Schubert Rendering

Diedre Irons, piano
Margaret Medlyn, Soprano

Our next programme features two composers who were taken away from us at the height of their powers - Mozart and Schubert.

Conductor Marc Taddei has chosen two works left unfinished by the great romantic composer Schubert at the time of his early death. “The ‘Unfinished Symphony’ needs little introduction. It is one of the most profound symphonic works of the 19th century,” Taddei says. But this Romantic gem, clearly one of the most popular works of the 19th century, is not the only one that that he left unfinished.

“Because Schubert died at such an early age he left many uncompleted manuscripts and sketches. Many of these sketches were for a planned 10th symphony”, he says.

“The great Italian composer Luciano Berio drew inspiration from these and orchestrated them for a Schubertian orchestra. But when the sketches ran out he did not try to continue in the style of Schubert, but rather imagined possibilities that tie them together. These ‘renderings’ are magical, dreamy, allusive and fully in Berio's style. They are the closest thing I have found in music to depicting the wonderful period between consciousness and sleep. It is hallucinogenic and thoroughly inspiring.”

The VWO continues its look at the piano masterpieces Mozart wrote in 1786, again featuring the lyrical magic of Diedre Irons. “The year 1786 was a particularly fine and prolific one for Mozart. He completed some of his most magnificent masterpieces. His 24th concerto has long been considered among his very greatest works - some call this his finest concerto and it proved to have immense influence on Beethoven's later style.

As a special treat the VWO is performing a little known gem form 1786 as well - his concert aria, ‘Ch'io mi scordi di te?"’(‘You ask that I forget you?’). Taddei is delighted to welcome back Margaret Medlyn as soloist for this wonderful work. “I'm sure may of you will remember her awe inspiring performance as Judith in Bartok's Bluebeard's castle,” he says.

Irons will join Medlyn for the obbligato piano part that accompanies the vocal line.

/ENDS

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