Archive for category: News

Have you heard the First Cuckoo of Spring yet? Firebird is heading to Kings Place on 22 March for The First Cuckoo: Nature Unwrapped. Take a look at some of the great music in store…

Following an invitation from the London Chamber Music Society, we are delighted to return to Kings  Place for the fourth time. Inspired by our name, Firebird explores some of nature’s ornithological themes in music with conductor George Jackson.

The tone poems composed in 1912 by the Bradford born composer Frederick DeliusOn Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and Summer Night on the River open our concert with a tranquil mood and give the title of the concert.

The first of these Two Pieces for Small Orchestra are an exchange of cuckoo calls between oboe and strings followed by a melody inspired by a Norwegian Folksong.

Next comes Felix Mendelssohn’s bravura Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 which will be performed by virtuoso Emmanuel Bach.

Composed between 1838 and 1844, It now forms an essential part of the violin repertoire and is one of the most popular and most frequently performed violin concertos in history.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was no stranger to virtuosi either and the vocal range of coloratura soprano Samantha Hay is put through its paces in the amazing Queen of the Night Arias: Der Hölle Rache & O zittre nicht from The Magic Flute.

“…dazzling coloratura and fearless top notes drew audible gasps!”

Intermezzo.com

Music by Josef Haydn concludes the concert with his Symphony no. 83 in G minor.

The second of his six ‘Paris’ Symphonies, it is popularly known as La poule (The Hen) because the clucking melody reminded listeners of the jerky head motion of a walking hen.

This concert has been organised in collaboration with the London Chamber Music Society.

The First Cuckoo: Nature Unwrapped

Sunday 22 March 2020, 6.30 pm
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG

Delius On Hearing the First Cuckoo
Delius Spring Summer Night on the River
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Mozart The Queen of the Night Arias: Der Hölle Rache & O zittre nicht (from Magic Flute)
Haydn Symphony no. 83 in G minor, Hob.I:83 (La Poule)

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Emmanuel Bach
Coloratura Samantha Hay

Soprano soloist Rosanna Harris will be making her Firebird debut with From the Earth to the Skies on 25 February. We find out more about her musical life…

Tell us a little about yourself as a musician…

I was born in Glasgow in Scotland and from there I travelled all over the world eventually settling back in the U.K. in my early 20s. I completed a BMus degree at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada before completing an MMus & PGDip in Vocal Performance at the RNCM in Manchester. I recently moved to Surrey after a few years living in London.

Music has been a part of my life since I was a small child: my parents were, and still are, involved in music and always encouraged me to participate in a wide range of artistic endeavours.

As well as singing, I studied the ‘cello, acting and dance and regularly performed in plays, musicals, operas, dance recitals, as well as with orchestras and ensembles, most of which I continue to enjoy as time allows. 

What are your career highlights to date?

Some of my most memorable experiences have been performing on stages including Bridgewater Hall, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Festival Hall, Grange Park Opera, and Opera Holland Park, both as a soloist and member of an ensemble. I have also worked with companies such as English Touring Opera, which has allowed me to see many gorgeous pockets of the U.K. 

What about your future ambitions in music?

I am mainly involved in the freelance opera world, but I really enjoy performing with ensembles and orchestras as time allows between opera contracts.  My ambition is to keep singing in any way I can. I like to mix singing with private singing teaching, so that I add variety to my days. As long as I have music in my life and the chance to sing often enough, I will be happy!

What is the value of London Firebird to younger professional musicians like yourself?

Performing with orchestras such as London Firebird gives invaluable opportunities for younger professional musicians, not least because of the depth an orchestra brings to the music and the exhilarating feeling one experiences as the performer.

At this stage in my career it is not always easy to come across solo opportunities like this. I am honoured to have been asked to perform Ilia’s recitative and aria from Idomeneo. This will be the first time I will be working with London Firebird Orchestra. I am very much looking forward to it. 

From the Earth to the Skies

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Mozart Overture to Idomeneo, re di Creta, K, 366
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat, Op. 19
Mozart Ilia’s Arias: Quando avran fine omai & Padre, germani, addio! (from Idomeneo)
Mozart Symphony no. 41 in C, K. 551 (Jupiter)

Conductor Michael Thrift
Piano Marc Corbett-Weaver
Soprano Rosanna Harris

Happy New Year from everyone at Firebird!

It’s that time of year when many of us are making resolutions for the year ahead. Have you made yours yet?

The three most common resolutions people make are to:

* sort out their finances
* eat more healthily
* exercise more.

One other you might like to add is ‘Make the most of 2020 with Firebird. We have a fabulous line up of concerts this year, so make sure these are on your agenda for 2020…

FROM THE EARTH TO THE SKIES

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Mozart Overture to Idomeneo, re di Creta, K, 366
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat, Op. 19
Mozart Ilia’s Arias: Quando avran fine omai & Padre, germani, addio! (from Idomeneo)
Mozart Symphony no. 41 in C, K. 551 (Jupiter)

Conductor Michael Thrift
Piano Marc Corbett-Weaver
Soprano Rosanna Harris

THE FIRST CUCKOO: NATURE UNWRAPPED

Sunday 22 March 2020, 6:30 pm
King’s Place, London, N1 9AG

Delius On Hearing the First Cuckoo
Delius Spring Summer Night on the River
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Mozart The Queen of the Night Arias: Der Hölle Rache & O zittre nicht (from The Magic Flute)
Haydn Symphony no. 83 in G minor, Hob.I:83 (La Poule)

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Emmanuel Bach
Coloratura Samantha Hay

FIREBIRD FOR SCHOOLS

Thursday 14 May 2020, 1:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Programme to include:
Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf, Op.67

Conductor George Jackson

B MINOR WITH LOVE

Thursday 11 June 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
Winner of the Firebird Young Composer of the Year Competition New Work (World Première)
Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique)

Conductor Michael Thrift
Cello Aleksei Kiseliov

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Thursday 24 September 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Glinka Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35
Sibelius Symphony no. 2 in D, Op. 43

Principal Guest Conductor George Jackson
Violin Yury Revich

FIREBIRD FLIES TO THE EAST

Thursday 22 October 2020, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Puccini A Selection of Arias from ‘La Bohème’
Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1919)

Principal Guest Conductor George Jackson
Piano George Harliono
Soprano Sky Ingram

French Horn player Helena Jacklin began performing with the London Firebird Orchestra in February this year. Several concerts later we find out more about her career in music…

Tell us a bit about yourself, your instrument and your training to date…

I began the horn at the age of nine and soon after gained a scholarship to study at the Purcell School of Music with Sue Dent, supported by the government’s Music and Dance scheme. I was then awarded a scholarship by the Royal College of Music in 2011 as holder of the Michael Quinn Award. I graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree.

My studies continued as holder of the Oliver Green Memorial Trust Award and as part of the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund of the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 2017 I graduated with a distinction in Masters in Performance.

Can you say more about your involvement in orchestral playing?

I see myself primarily an orchestral musician and have performed with orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, RTE Symphony Orchestra and London Concert Orchestra, among others. I was a member of the Southbank Sinfonia in 2018 and am currently on trial for Principal Horn of the Scottish Ballet. 

I am also active in chamber music and have given solo and chamber music recitals at the Royal Festival Hall, Kings Place, Wigmore Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields. I began performing with the London Firebird Orchestra in February this year, playing first horn.

And what about your future ambitions?

My musical ambition is to have a varied playing career, whether in a symphony orchestra or in an orchestral pit.

Outside of music, my ambitions include travelling to as many different countries as possible and completing all of the recipes in Meera Sodha’s cookbooks!

What do you see as the value of an orchestra like London Firebird to younger professional musicians like yourself?

London Firebird Orchestra offers young musicians the chance to bridge the gap between study and the demands of professional life in a collegiate and supportive artistic environment.

It is also a great opportunity to cover basic repertoire. Some of my most memorable dates including Beethoven’s 5th and 7th symphonies with conductor George Jackson.

Join us for the next Firebird concert on Tuesday evening at St George’s Hanover Square for an evening of fantastic music including the world premiere of Yury Revich’s fresh look at Paganini’s 24 Caprices

Violinist Yury Revich has taken a fresh look at those incredibly demanding pieces by presenting all 24 Caprices for the first time with his newly composed accompaniment for full symphony orchestra.

Watch the video for a taster of what’s in store…

Yury explains: ‘I believe this new version of the Caprices brings a fusion of the mystery of Paganini’s music and the magic with a modern symphonic sound. I would like to invite you to experience the magic of Paganini in our own time.‘

Mission Paganini with Yury Revich

Tuesday 22 October 2019, 7:30 pm
St George’s, Hanover Square, London, W1S 1FX

Donizetti Overture to Don Pasquale
Paganini/Revich The 24 Caprices
Puccini Quando m’en vo’ (from La Boheme) & O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)

Conductor George Jackson
Violin Yury Revich
Soprano Sky Ingram

This concert has been generously sponsored by Rory Graham in memory of James B Cairns