YORK chamber orchestra The Academy of St Olave’s will perform in support of the Accomplish Children’s Trust at St Olave’s Church, Marygate, York, on January 25.
Under the musical direction of Alan George, they will present a wide-ranging programme pf music from the classical era to the 20th century, opening with two contrasting Mozart works: the exuberant overture to his first mature opera, Idomeneo, and the elegiac Masonic Funeral Music.
“The second was composed in memory of two of Mozart’s fellow Freemasons, which unusually features three basset horns – a low-pitched member of the clarinet family – and a contrabassoon in the woodwind section,” says Alan.
“There’s also contrast between the pair of Scandinavian works that complete the first half: Grieg’s ever-popular Holberg Suite for string orchestra, evoking a bygone Baroque age, and Nielsen’s Serenata In Vano, a quirky quintet for clarinet, bassoon, horn, cello and double bass that the composer described as ‘a humorous trifle’.”
The 8pm concert will conclude with Haydn’s Symphony No. 99 in E flat major, composed in 1793 for the composer’s second visit to London.
“We’re thrilled to begin the new decade with such a diverse programme of music, from Mozart’s seldom-heard masonic music – including the extremely rare opportunity to hear three distinguished basset horn players – to Nielsen’s eccentric quintet. Alongside Grieg’s neoclassical masterpiece and one of Haydn’s finest symphonies, our audience are in for a real treat.”
Concert proceeds will go to the Accomplish Children’s Trust, a Christian charity with connections to St Olave’s church that aids children with disabilities and their families in Africa. The trust supports projects that address education, medical care and income generation for families through grants to grass-roots organisations in Uganda, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. More information on the charity’s work can be found at accomplishtrust.org.uk.
Tickets are on sale at £14, concessions £13, students and children £5, at academyofstolaves.org.uk, from Visit York, in Museum Street, on 01904 555670 or on the door.