"Didcot's new symphony orchestra"
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PAST CONCERTS
CONCERT PROGRAMME 8 8 Sunday 22 May 2022 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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Concert for Ukraine |
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Russian Masterpieces 2In support of the people of Ukraine, the long-planned Russian theme to this concert begins with the stirring Adagio from Spartacus - made popular by the TV series The Onedin Line.Nikolai Myaskovsky composed in the tuneful tradition of his teachers Glière, Lyadov and Rimsky-Korsakov, and became known as the father of the Russian symphony – his 27th (and last) being the finest – a truly unjustly neglected masterpiece. Mussorgsky's glittering Pictures at an Exhibition, as stunningly orchestrated by Ravel, needs little introduction to concert audiences – as a descriptive musical portrayal of works of art by artist and painter Victor Hartmann during his travels abroad.  |
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 | Verbytsky | State Anthem of Ukraine |
| Khachaturian | Adagio from Spartacus and Phrygia | |
| Myaskovsky | Symphony no 27 in C minor | |
| Mussorgsky orch. Ravel | Pictures at an Exhibition | |
| Massenet | Last Sleep of the Virgin (encore) | |
| Orchestra 55 Audience 115 | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 7
7 Sunday 6 February 2022 at 16.30The Beacon, Portway, Wantage OX12 9BX |
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Didcot Concert Orchestra is back ! |
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The Gypsy Baron Overture is one of the most symphonic works by Johann Strauss the Younger, but none of his works would be complete without a waltz or two, and this piece is no exception. DCO is delighted to welcome violin soloist and acclaimed recording artist Clare Howick to play the delightful Violin Concerto by Glazunov. She will also perform the very rarely heard Nachtstück by Reznicek – its enchanting atmosphere features only four horns, a harp and strings to accompany the soloist. The Fifth Symphony of Dvořák is undeservedly less well known than his later works, but features melody aplenty, and its wistful and energetic moments form a satisying whole with an overall pastoral quality.  |
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| Strauss, J II | Gypsy Baron: Overture | |
| Reznicek | Nachtstück (Clare Howick) | |
| Glazunov | Violin Concerto (Clare Howick) | |
| Dvořák | Symphony 5 in F | |
| Schreker | Birthday of the infanta (encore) | |
| Editor's Choice – Gramophone magazine
Recommended Recording – BBC Radio 3 Record Review ... playing with beguiling warmth and affection – The Strad ... simply spectacular – American Record Guide Clare's debut concerto disc, British Violin Concertos, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, was selected as a 'Recording of the Year 2018' by MusicWeb International |
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| Orchestra 44 Audience 122 | ||
| This concert had to be moved with ten days' notice from Cornerstone, Didcot to The Beacon, Wantage. | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 6 6 Sunday 8 March 2020 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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| Our sixth concert begins with a quintessentially English rhapsody – A Shropshire Lad – whose enchanting atmosphere leaves us wondering what future masterpieces Butterworth (a teacher at Radley College) would have written had he not been killed on the Somme. Then comes a superb but rarely-played gem by Josef Suk – Dvořák's son-in-law – whose Fairy Tale is a broad melodic tapestry that relates the path of true love. We end the concert with Franck's evergreen Symphony in D minor, which has delighted audiences for 130 years. | ||
| Butterworth | A Shropshire Lad | |
| Suk | Fairy Tale - suite for large orchestra | |
| Franck | Symphony in D minor | |
| Orchestra 50 Audience 163 | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 5 5 Sunday 6 October 2019 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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| We begin our fifth concert with a symphonic fantasy by Rachmaninov – The Rock – depicting with vivid orchestration the meeting of a young girl and an older man during a Christmas Eve blizzard, and much admired by Tchaikovsky. Wagner's opera Tannhauser describes the struggle between sacred and profane love - we play a synthesis of the opera's two most famous orchestral excerpts. The concert ends with Rimsky-Korsakov's dazzling masterpiece Scheherazade, in which the solo violin part is played by DCO's Leader, Kate Bailey. | ||
| Rachmaninov | The Rock - Symphonic Fantasia | |
| Wagner | Tannhauser: Prelude and Venusberg Music (with semi-chorus from Didcot Choral Society) |
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| Rimsky-Korsakov | Scheherazade | |
| Orchestra 50 Off-stage semi-chorus 11 Audience 164 (highest) | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 4 4 Sunday 9 June 2019 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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| Our fourth concert begins with Emil von Reznicek's effervescent Donna Diana Overture, followed by an unjustly neglected melodic miniature by Glazunov. Young rising star Leo Appel then joins us for Bruch's ever-popular First Violin Concerto. Henri Duparc was a very self-critical French composer who destroyed much of his orchestral output. His Danse Lente is one of only three surviving orchestral pieces, and it deserves to be heard much more frequently. Effervescence returns aplenty as the concert ends with the 17-year-old Bizet's tuneful and remarkably accomplished Symphony in C. | ||
| Reznicek | Donna Diana Overture | |
| Glazunov | Serenade no 1 in A | |
| Bruch | Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor (Leo Appel) | |
| Duparc | Danse Lente | |
| Duparc | Extase (orch. Bushell) | |
| Bizet | Symphony in C | |
| Orchestra 42 Audience 151 | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 3 3 Sunday 3 March 2019 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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Russian Masterpieces 1 |
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| We begin our third concert with the popular and exuberant overture to Glinka's opera Russlan and Ludmilla. Then comes an unjustly neglected gem by Glazunov – his tuneful Poème Lyrique, and the first half ends with Mussorgsky's epic Night on the Bare Mountain – depicting a witches' sabbath, and full of contrasts and innovation. The concert also includes one of the most popular symphonies of all time – Tchaikovsky's Fifth. Who can resist hearing the famous horn solo in the second movement? | ||
| Glinka | Russlan and Ludmilla Overture | |
| Glazunov | Poème Lyrique | |
| Mussorgsky | Night on the Bare Mountain | |
| Tchaikovsky | Symphony no 5 in E minor | |
| Orchestra 51 Audience 154 | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 2 2 Sunday 14 October 2018 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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| Following our very successful inaugural concert in February 2018, we begin our second concert with a rare gem by Croydon composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at the suggestion of Elgar. We follow this with Elgar's immortal Cello Concerto – practically his last work, and full of mourning for a lost world after the first world war. Soloist Jacqueline Johnson then treats us to an orchestration by world-famous cellist Lynn Harrell of Victor Herbert's short piano piece "Yesterthoughts", and we end the concert with Dvorak's happy and tuneful Sixth Symphony. | ||
| Coleridge-Taylor | Ballade in A minor | |
| Elgar | Cello Concerto (Jacqueline Johnson) | |
| Herbert | Yesterthoughts (Jacqueline Johnson) | |
| Dvořák | Symphony no 6 in D | |
| Orchestra 49 Audience 144 | ||
CONCERT PROGRAMME 1 1 Sunday 11 February 2018 at 16.00Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE |
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Inaugural Concert |
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| Our inaugural concert! An afternoon of classical music with Didcot's very own and brand new symphony orchestra, playing music from the late Romantic era. Ballet lovers especially will recognise Ponchielli's charming "Dance of the Hours" with its changing moods and catchy tunes depicting the times of the day. French composer César Franck's highly melodic and atmospheric symphonic poem "Psyché" offers a unique chance to hear this rarely performed but tuneful gem. The concert concludes with Brahms' incomparable and sunny Second Symphony, replete with fresh inventive melodies, colourful orchestration, and tunes you'll go home humming. | ||
| Bushell | A Didcot Fanfare | |
| Ponchielli | Dance of the Hours | |
| Franck | Symphonic Poem: Psyché | |
| Brahms | Symphony no 2 in D | |
| Orchestra 46 Audience 157 | ||
REVIEWS
| 8 I thoroughly enjoyed the concert! I thought the standard was extremely high, verging on professional. A really impressive group of musicians, very expertly conducted. Sally H. |
| 8 This concert was based on a programme which had been planned for a previous date. It was well worth waiting for. Beginning with the Ukraine National Anthem – a moving gesture of support to a beleagured country – a varied selection of pieces from that region, including one none of us were likely to have known, were splendidly performed. A gentle encore rounded off a very enjoyable afternoon. J.S. |
| 8 I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed last night's concert and this whole session. It's a pleasure to play with so many players (and conductor) of such a high standard. Sarah H., DCO cellist |
| 8 Really enjoyed this concert, it was amazing and the standing ovation during the Ukrainian National Anthem was very emotional. A great orchestra, honoured to be part of it. Sue Hurst, flautist |
| 7 It was a great pleasure to work with you, and Didcot Concert Orchestra. What an amazing job you've done bringing together this great sounding orchestra. As soon as I walked into the hall and heard the lovely, full, warm sound of the orchestra, I knew we would create a wonderful performance together. It was so joyous to make music together, especially given that it was the orchestra's first concert since the beginning of the pandemic. Both yourself and the players were very supportive, warm and friendly, and provided great accompaniment to the Glazunov concerto. I thoroughly enjoyed our performance together. Clare Howick, soloist |
| 7 Outstanding achievement yesterday. Excellent concert and to produce it under the pressure of 'touring' was remarkable. We really enjoyed it. Dave W. |
| 7 Great selections, superbly played and conducted, and all on top of the change of venue. K.R. |
| 6 Amazing selection of music, including a non-famous piece which was very good, as well as some superb playing! Would recommend. Michael Vereker, Facebook |
| 6 Thanks for a great concert this afternoon. Best of the five we've been to. Very pleasing to see that your audience is still growing. Looking forward to the next one. Tim Cook |
| 6 Just two years after its formation, Didcot Concert Orchestra has become an established part of the town's cultural life, its thrice-yearly Sunday afternoon concerts makin an attractive addition to Cornerstone arts Centre's programme... Nicola Lisle, OX IN A BOX Read full concert preview |
| 5 In the Prelude and Venusberg Music from Wagner's Tannhäuser, the orchestra was well and truly in its stride, throwing itself into the music with gusto. There was sparkle and conviction, the players clearly relishing this glorious score. One lady in the wind section, while awaiting her entry, was smiling from the sheer enjoyment of it. The singers from Didcot Choral Society impressed too in the Venusberg Music, their voices soaring, wraithlike, offstage. This was a truly magnificent performance of some of Wagner's most stirring music, and showcased the depth of talent in this mainly amateur orchestra. Rimsky-Korsakov's ever-popular Scheherazade ... was another lively and spirited effort, with all those familiar melodies pouring forth in a blaze of glory, each a rediscovered gem. There was some particularly fine solo work from orchestra leader Kate Bailey – one of four professional section leaders – and from the wind and brass sections. But everyone played their part, and this was a joyous, confident and utterly compelling rendition of one of the treasures of the classical music repertoire, bringing the concert to a magnificent finale. Classical music journalist |
| 5 Congratulations! It was a superb concert and everyone I spoke to thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm still singing Scheherazade to myself! Audience member |
| 5 Thank you very much for a wonderful concert today ... the quality of the concert was excellent. A.L. |
| 4 This is a really fine body of players, expertly lead by conductor Geoff Bushell. The orchestra plays programmes that are both attractive and innovative in a pleasant, comfortable venue – a most enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Denise Ham |
| 4 Enjoyed last Sunday, excellent choice of music and very well played. K.R. |
| 3 I didn't think I liked classical music but I really enjoyed the music in this concert. J.C. |
| 3 Great concert yesterday – congrats on what you have achieved in setting up the new orchestra. Audience member |
| 3 It is wonderful that Didcot now has its own symphony orchestra! Its regular programmes are a very satisfying way to spend a late Sunday afternoon, and its third concert offered much to interest and delight. Conductor Geoff Bushell's introductions contextualised the pieces in such a way that unfamiliar pieces by Glinka and Glazunov were, for this layperson, accessible and engaging. Following the interval, Tchaikovsky's Symphony no 5 was a thing of power and beauty. And all a short stroll from the front door – we are fortunate indeed! Dr Amanda Sandiford |
| 2 Wonderful performance by the Didcot Concert Orchestra tonight. Ed Vaizey, DCO Honorary President, Twitter, 14 October 2018 |
| 2 The Orchestra's next concert will be on 3rd March and will include Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. On this showing it will be difficult for the music aficionado to justify being elsewhere that day. Andrew Bell, Daily Info Read full concert review |
| 1 Congratulations! A brilliant debut. Overall there was great ensemble, great tuning and many individual contributions. The very dry acoustics of the venue worked against the woodwind most of all, so more soloistic playing would help them project their sound. More communication between wind and strings will come as they get to know one another, and get used to playing in this challenging acoustic. The highlight for me was the string pianissimos, and the Brahms, apart from a few technical passages, was a tour de force. Geoff and Jackie have done a great job in putting together an orchestra of this quality and I'm very much looking forward to the Dvorak in October. S.P. |
| 1 The orchestra successfully combines the performance of professional players with the enthusiasm of amateurs, resulting in a very lively performance. The cello section is particularly impressive producing a great sound. I hope that the current, and planned, expansion of Didcot and its surrounding area, will offer opportunities for both new players and new audiences. Tim Cook |
GALLERY
We had some professional photographs taken at our inaugural concert on Sunday 11 February 2018. Photography © Triptych Photography.
REPERTOIRE
Here's a list of past and future repertoire for DCO's first 11 concerts, ordered by composer.
| Composer | Piece | Date | Concert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bushell | A Didcot Fanfare | 11‑02‑2018 | 01a |
| Ponchielli | Dance of the Hours | 11-02-2018 | 01b |
| Franck | Symphonic Poem: Psyché | 11-02-2018 | 01c |
| Brahms | Symphony no 2 in D | 11-02-2018 | 01d |
| Coleridge-Taylor | Ballade in A minor | 14-10-2018 | 02a |
| Elgar | Cello Concerto (Jacqueline Johnson) | 14-10-2018 | 02b |
| Herbert | Yesterthoughts (Jacqueline Johnson) | 14-10-2018 | 02c |
| Dvorak | Symphony no 6 in D | 14-10-2018 | 02d |
| Glinka | Russlan and Ludmilla Overture | 03-03-2019 | 03a |
| Glazunov | Poème Lyrique | 03-03-2019 | 03b |
| Mussorgsky | Night on the Bare Mountain | 03-03-2019 | 03c |
| Tchaikovsky | Symphony no 5 in E minor | 03-03-2019 | 03d |
| Reznicek | Donna Diana Overture | 09-06-2019 | 04a |
| Glazunov | Serenade no 1 in A | 09-06-2019 | 04b |
| Bruch | Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor (Leo Appel) | 09-06-2019 | 04c |
| Duparc | Danse Lente | 09-06-2019 | 04d |
| Duparc | Extase (orch. Bushell) | 09-06-2019 | 04e |
| Bizet | Symphony in C | 09-06-2019 | 04f |
| Rachmaninov | The Rock - Symphonic Fantasia | 06-10-2019 | 05a |
| Wagner | Tannhauser: Prelude and Venusberg Music (Didcot CS) | 06-10-2019 | 05b |
| Rimsky-Korsakov | Scheherazade | 06-10-2019 | 05c |
| Butterworth | A Shropshire Lad | 08-03-2020 | 06a |
| Suk | Fairy Tale - suite for large orchestra | 08-03-2020 | 06b |
| Franck | Symphony in D minor | 08-03-2020 | 06c |
| Prokofiev | Symphony no 1 "Classical" | 21-06-2020 | 07a |
| Lyadov | Sorrowful Song | 21-06-2020 | 07b |
| Dvorak | Czech Suite | 21-06-2020 | 07c |
| Larsson | Pastoral Suite | 21-06-2020 | 07d |
| Beethoven | Symphony no 8 in F | 21-06-2020 | 07e |
| Khachaturian | Adagio from Spartacus and Phrygia | 04-10-2020 | 08a |
| Myaskovsky | Symphony no 27 in C minor | 04-10-2020 | 08b |
| Mussorgsky | Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel) | 04-10-2020 | 08c |
| Wagner | Parsifal: Prelude | 28-02-2021 | 09a |
| Strauss, Richard | Four Last Songs (Mary Pope) | 28-02-2021 | 09b |
| Dvorak | Hussite Overture | 28-02-2021 | 09c |
| Tchaikovsky | Sleeping Beauty highlights | 28-02-2021 | 09d |
| Franck | Les Éolides | 20-06-2021 | 10a |
| Fauré | Pélleas et Mélisande | 20-06-2021 | 10b |
| Vaughan Williams | Wasps Overture | 20-06-2021 | 10c |
| Debussy | Prelude a l'après-midi d'un faune | 20-06-2021 | 10d |
| Brahms | Serenade no 1 | 20-06-2021 | 10e |
| Saint Saëns | Phaéton | 03-10-2021 | 11a |
| Hanson, Howard | Symphony no 2 "Romantic" | 03-10-2021 | 11b |
| Goldmark | Sakuntala Overture | 03-10-2021 | 11c |
| Tchaikovsky | Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture | 03-10-2021 | 11d |
CONTACT
