2
Re-defining the string orchestra Britten’s late masterpiece with soloist Jane Irwin + Handel / Purcell / Biber CITY HALLS, GLASGOW Wed 24 April 2013, 7.30pm PHAEDRA

SE 24 April Concert: Phaedra

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Britten's late masterpeice performed by the Scottish Ensemble and soloist Jane Irwin + Handel / Purcell / Biber

Citation preview

Page 1: SE 24 April Concert: Phaedra

Re-defining the string orchestra

Britten’s late masterpiece with soloist Jane Irwin+ Handel / Purcell / Biber

CITY HALLS, GLASGOW Wed 24 April 2013, 7.30pm

PH

AE

DR

A

Page 2: SE 24 April Concert: Phaedra

Britten’s late masterpiece, Phaedra, is a compact, dramatic cantata scored for strings, harpsichord, and percussion, which features a demanding solo vocal part. The work’s compelling libretto is taken from Racine’s play - itself based on a mythological story of incestuous, and ultimately tragic, love in ancient Greece.

The dramatic story is matched by Britten’s tense, brooding, and potent score. Divided strings create rich, overlapping textures and the unusual combination of harpsichord and percussion sound a stark, desolate note to the proceedings.

Having sung with major opera houses and orchestras throughout the world, Jane Irwin joins the Scottish Ensemble for this concert, which also celebrates the Ensemble’s return from an 11-date US tour. Britten modelled his cantata on the form established by Handel, whose music also features throughout this programme. Several of the baroque string classics which complete the evening were enjoyed by audiences throughout the US tour, and are also based on dramatic, mythological stories.

Registered charity no. SC001539

CITY HALLS, GLASGOW Wednesday 24 April 2013, 7.30pmglasgowconcerthalls.com 0141 353 8000

Tickets £13 Students £5 Under 16s Free

Re-defining the string orchestra

scottishensemble.co.uk @scotensemble

scottishensemble

Handel Concerto Grosso op. 6 no. 7 Purcell ‘Dido’s Lament’ ; ‘Hark! The Echoing Air’ Handel ‘Ah Mio Cor’ (from Alcina) Biber Battalia Purcell Dance of the Furies ; Chacony in G ; Fantasia upon One Note Britten Phaedra

Soloist: Jane Irwin