Concert By The Elgar Sinfonia Of London

Programme:

Elgar: ‘King Arthur Suite’
Finzi: Eclogue for Piano and Strings
Soloist: Drew Steanson
Imogen Holst: Concerto for Violin and Strings (1935) Premiere
Soloist: Midori Komachi
Elgar: All FIVE Pomp and Circumstance Marches

The Elgar Sinfonia was formed in 2018 to expressly give live, friendly concerts of the not only the well-known works of Edward Elgar but all the compositions rarely heard in public by this great musician. This includes much choral music for which we have been joined by The London Chorus. Also, music by many other British composers have been featured including works by Finzi, Vaughan Williams and Arthur Bliss; most recently his Piano Concerto brilliantly performed by Rustam Khanmurzin. Many distinguished artists have joined us including Janice Watson and Sasha Rohzdestvensky.

The orchestra convenes a week before our concerts for intense rehearsal, players selected by Music Director, Adrian Brown for intense rehearsal in our home, St Andrews Holborn.

Adrian is a distinguished and respected conductor of British music not least Elgar for which he was presented with the Elgar Medal at a concert in 2020. He always introduces the programme of music giving what audiences feel to be a real insight into what they are to about to hear. In that sense our concerts are friendly and are appreciated in many different ways.

The November Concert is in honour of Andrew Neill, an Elgar specialist and writer and our President. Also, Adrian’s 75th Birthday will be celebrated.

The programme features a rare playing of Elgar’s music for the play, ‘ King Arthur’. Dating from the end of his career Elgar used much material in his unfinished 3rd Symphony.

We also are going to enjoy playing all the Five Pomp and Circumstance Marches which date from 1901 to the fifth one of his last compositions. They are five pieces of extraordinary variety and whilst no’s 1 and 4 are so well known you will discover how wonderful the others are as well.

Peace will reign with the tranquil Eclogue for Piano and Strings, a projected slow movement of an incomplete full-blown concerto. Our soloist, Drew Steanson has worked with Adrian on many occasions.

Very excitingly we give the premiere of Imogen Holst’s Violin Concerto with the brilliant, Midori Komachi.

A neglected and recently restored work; this concerto from the pen of Gustav’s daughter is fascinating. It will be moving for Adrian to perform this as he in the late 60’s and early 70’s lead orchestras in Ipswich for Imogen and remembers her well.

A varied menu of music, familiar and not so. You will be welcome to join our family of music making.