Fri 15 Oct
Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra is recognised as one of Wales’ leading non-professional orchestras. Their new 2010 season kicks off with a programme celebrating the inspiration Shakespeare has had on four great composers.
When you consider the quality of writing that William Shakespeare produced in his time, it was inevitable that it would continue to influence people centuries on. His plays motivated some of the greatest composers in history to produce some of their best and most well-known pieces of music. Influenced by Shakespeare’s writing and the music produced as a consequence of it, CPO were keen to recreate the most famous pieces of classical music composed for Shakespeare’s plays.
The concert will begin with Tchaikovsky’s overture for Hamlet which is regarded as one of his richest, most emotional scores. Contrasting this, the conclusion of the first half of Shakespeare in Music will feature a composition by Mandelssohn for A Midsummer Night’s Dream which is a light, joyous occasion and also includes the famous wedding march which even the non-classical music lovers will appreciate.
As the second half of the show commences, the big screen behind the orchestra will come to life with an especially commissioned animation of The Tempest by Virginia Head which complements the dark, dramatic Prelude by Sibelius to The Tempest. Some may argue that CPO save the best for last as they aim to blow the audience away with a suite from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet ballet, including the Dance of The Knights which may be familiar to viewers of BBC’s The Apprentice as the theme music.
Judging by the high standards of CPO and the programme for the night, the audience are in for a real treat.
Tickets: £5-£18. Info: 029 2087 8444/ www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk