IN an era of music where more attention is paid to red carpet dresses made of raw meat than the sounds themselves, it is hardly surprising that modern classics become broken records faster than you can say ‘gimmick.’
So how does music that’s been around for hundreds of years compete without dressing up in pantomime costumes like those favoured by current chart-topper Lady Gaga?
Classical music conductor Marios Papadopoulos is adamant that his ‘core repertoire with a new twist’ will hold the audience’s attention at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.
The Oxford Philomusica, accompanied by the youngest ever BBC Young Musician of the Year, Jennifer Pike, will perform popular pieces Elgar, Enigma Variations and Brahms, Violin Concerto in D major this week.
“People often say to me: ‘Why are you doing another Brahms or Beethoven?’ and I don’t mean to sound boastful, but those people then come back to me and say that they have heard something in the music that they weren’t aware was there before. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Aylesbury’
BUCKS HERALD: Marios and the Oxford Philomusica bring Aylesbury Waterside Theatre the classics, but with a twist
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
OXFORD TIMES: Preview of Oxford Philomusica at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
On Friday, March 11, the Oxford Philomusica goes east. Not quite as far as Singapore or Tokyo, but to Aylesbury, where the orchestra will give its first concert in the town’s new Waterside Theatre.
“We’re extremely excited to be appointed Orchestra in Association at the Waterside, so we’re the resident orchestra,” the Philomusica’s founder and music director Marios Papadopoulos told me. “Our involvement extends beyond the concert platform; we’re planning some exciting educational activity — next week’s concert will be preceded by a workshop.”
Although this is the Philomusica’s first concert at the Waterside, it’s not their first visit, Papadopoulos explained. (more…)
Orchestra in Association at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
As part of the planned expansion of our concert series, Oxford Phil needs new, large venues to play in. With this in mind, we are very pleased to have been invited to become the first ‘Orchestra in Association’ at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre which seats over 1200. Our debut orchestral concert will be on 11 March 2011, and will be preceded by a schools workshop at the theatre in the afternoon. You may remember that in August 2010 we were invited to carry out two days of acoustic testing by the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. The building had not yet been fully commissioned so hard hats and safety waistcoats were worn!
As part of our connection with the community in Aylesbury, we are forging strong links with Aylesbury Academy, a former ‘failing school’, where we plan a week-long music-based project in July for student groups which, unusually, will contain a mixture of ages and abilities. This is part of their annual ‘enrichment week’ of non-timetabled activities: the theme is ‘Life in Quarrendon medieval village’ which is sited next to the school’s proposed new building. We are also planning to put on a schools concert (Instruments of the Orchestra, for year 7s) and to play for a major choral concert involving the two major Aylesbury amateur choirs, both events at the theatre, and under the umbrella of the newly-formed Aylesbury Festival in July 2011.
Oxford Philomusica’s debut concert at the Aylesbury takes place on Friday 11 March 2011 at 7.30pm. We will present two late 19th century masterpieces: Brahms’ virtuosic Violin Concerto with its dancing ‘gypsy’ finale, performed by Jennifer Pike, 2002 BBC Young Musician of Year; and Edward Elgar’s ever-popular Enigma Variations. Click here to book.
