Archive for category: News

In the next London Firebird Orchestra concert, Matthew Hunt will play Mozart’s sublime Clarinet Concerto in A. However, it seems Mozart might have originally intended to write this concerto not for the clarinet at all but for basset horn. This was considered a rather old fashioned instrument at the time but  Mozart found himself writing beyond the capabilities of this outmoded instrument.

Basset horn

Luckily the virtuoso performer for whom he was writing, Anton Stadler was championing a special new instrument at the time called the basset clarinet which had a more extended range.

The clarinet was an exciting new instrument of its day the creation of which is created to Johann Denner around 1700. The clarinet in effect, combined two existing instruments. Firstly, the warm lower register of the Chalumeau which was a popular instrument in the Baroque era. It was a bit like a recorder but with a single-reed – a piece of finely shaved cane which vibrates when it is blown to produce the sound. The lower range of the modern day clarinet is often referred to as the Chalumeau register.

Chalameau

And secondly, the bright sounds found with renaissance and baroque trumpets. The Clarion and the Italian clarino are all derived from the medieval claro – an early form of trumpet. In 1732 the Clarinet was described as sounding ‘from far off not unlike a trumpet’ and today the middle range of the clarinet is called the Clarion register. 

When Mozart’s concerto was premiered in Prague in 1791, Stadler was described as a man of ‘great talent and recognised as such at court’ yet Mozart was criticised by some for writing for this new fangled instrument.

The classical clarinet of Mozart‘s day typically had eight finger holes and five keys but the evolution of the instrument continued until the so-called Boehm system clarinet with the addition of more keys and pads – which is essentially the instrument used today.

Boehm system clarinet

Today there are several versions of clarinets frequently used, the most popular being the B♭ clarinet. There is also a clarinet in A, just a semitone lower, one in E♭ and an bass B♭ clarinet. Clarinets can be found in orchestras, jazz bands, marching and military bands and even in klezmer bands and is one of the most popular and versatile instruments of our time.

Alongside Mozart‘s Clarinet Concerto on Tuesday 11 October you can also hear the orchestral clarinet playing the cuckoo in Beethoven’s Pastorale Symphony.

London Firebird Orchestra is celebrating the success of one its conductors, Jonathan Bloxham following the announcement of his appointment as Assistant Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Jonathan has been a regular conductor of the London Firebird Orchestra in between his other engagements in the UK and overseas. In the 2015/16 Firebird season he conducted the September Surprise concert at the prestigious Pump Room in Bath and the hugely successful concert at Kings Place in collaboration with the London Chamber Music Society.

London Firebird Orchestra’s artistic Director, Marc Corbett-Weaver was delighted with the news:

“I first met Jonathan at a conducting competition in Austria where I was performing Mozart Piano Concertos. I was invited onto the judging panel and was thrilled when Jonathan won the first prize. It wasn’t long before he started conducting some of our Firebird Concerts.”

“Providing opportunities for young performers such as Jonathan is at the heart of our work at the London Firebird Orchestra. We wish him the very best with this prestigious new appointment”

Jonathan Bloxham with the London Firebird Orchestra

Jonathan is also a successful cellist having performed the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Firebird Orchestra. He also is an avid chamber music player with the Northern Chords Ensemble which grew out of the Northern Chords Chamber Music Festival which Jonathan founded in 2009.

For the CBSO auditions Jonathan was one of eight conductors shortlisted from nearly 200 applicants to conduct two pianos in their first round. Those successful in this round completed a second round conducting the full CBSO. Jonathan commented:

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be joining the CBSO next season. It’s a very exciting step for me and my career as a conductor. I remember the first full evening orchestral concert that I conducted was my début performance with Firebird so it will alway have a special place in my heart.”

Jonathan Bloxham with the London Firebird Orchestra

At the CBSO Jonathan will work closely with music director Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and visiting conductors – as well as the CBSO’s Michael Seal and Simon Halsey.

In June 2017 Jonathan will appear with the CBSO and pianist Peter Donohoe, as well as working with CBSO Youth Orchestra and conducting one of the CBSO in one of their next season’s Family Concerts.

We also look forward to welcoming Jonathan back to conduct one of our concerts in the next season – watch this space!

Until then look back at our archive of past concerts to trace Jonathan’s career with the London Firebird Orchestra.

St Paul’s Covent Garden

We take a closer look at the historic church of St Paul’s Covent Garden to find out what makes this venue for the next London Firebird Orchestra concert on 16 June so special.

In 1630, the Earl of Bedford was given permission to demolish buildings on an area of land he owned north of the Strand for redevelopment. The result was the Covent Garden Piazza – the first formal square in London.

Lord Bedford approached the architect Inigo Jones to create “houses and buildings fitt for the habitacons of Gentlemen and men of ability”. Lord Bedford also asked Jones to include a simple church “not much better than a barn”, to which the architect apparently replied “Then you shall have the handsomest barn in England”.

Inigo Jones

Inigo Jones introduced the classical architecture of Rome and the Italian Renaissance to Britain. He left his mark on London in buildings such as the Queen’s House in Greenwich and the Banqueting House, Whitehall which propelled Britain into a golden age of architecture.

St Paul’s was completed in 1633 and was the first entirely new church to be built in London since the Reformation.

Jones used as his inspiration the early forms of Roman temples such as the Etruscan temple at Potonaccio.

The church was completed in 1633 at a cost of of £4,886. However, there was a problem…

Covent Garden Piazza painted in 1737 by Balthazar Nebot

One would normally expect the entrance to be through the magnificent portico leading from the piazza. In fact Jones designed three doors along this façade and intended to have the altar at the west end. But due to pressure from the church hierarchy these doors had to be blocked up and the entrance moved to the much plainer west side through the churchyard.

West end entrance

The church is known affectionately as The actors’ church with its long association with the theatre community dating back to 1663 when the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane opened, the first of many theatres in London’s West End.

On 9 May 1662, Samuel Pepys noted in his diary the first “Italian puppet play” under the portico. The portico was also the setting for the first scene of Shaw’s Pygmalion, the play that was later adapted as My Fair Lady.

Many well known musicians, artists and actors have memorials in the church including Thomas Arne, Sir Charles Mackerras, Dame Edith Evans, Sir Charlie Chaplin, Sir Noël Coward, Gracie Fields, Stanley Holloway, Boris Karloff, Vivien Leigh and Ivor Novello.

Today, as well as being a living church community this fascinating building hosts many concert and other performances throughout the year in the centre of the city.

Experience it for yourself with our next concert…

From Russia With Love

Thursday 16 June | 6.45pm drinks in the garden, 7.30pm concert
St Paul’s Covent Garden, Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED

Join us for our sumptuous summer event as we return to our favourite venue at St Paul’s Covent Garden for a romantic evening of Russian masterpieces on Thursday 16 June.

Book tickets now.