City of London Sinfonia May 2010

City of London Sinfonia – An Evening of Clarinet
 
In association with the Wycombe Arts Festival
 
Mozart                 Symphony No. 29 in A
Weber                  Clarinet Concerto No. 2
Haydn                   Symphony No. 22 - The Philosopher
Copland               Clarinet Concerto
 
Michael Collins  Conductor & Clarinet
 
Ever-popular Michael Collins returns as both soloist and conductor in this programme featuring two very different sides of the clarinet - classical early 19th century virtuosity and 20th century jazz: This will be the first chance to hear Michael Collins with CLS in High Wycombe, after he was appointed the orchestra’s new Principal Conductor in November 2009. Michael will officially take up the post, along with the new Artistic Director and co-Principal Conductor, in September 2010.

The first performance of Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in 1811 was greeted with 'frantic applause'. The work remains to this day one of the greatest in the clarinet repertoire. Aaron Copland wrote his Clarinet Concerto for American jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman. He began work on it while travelling in Latin America in 1947 and completed it during his annual sojourn at Tanglewood the following year. The work took shape under the influence of the Brazilian folk music Copland heard during his travels, while the second movement in particular was tailored to fit Goodman's own playing style and skill.

Haydn's Symphony No. 22 in E flat major ('Philosopher') is a good example of a work that bridges the late Baroque and early Classical styles. The main musical idea unfolds in the spirit of a chorale; this idea is first intoned by the horns and is answered by the English horns (cor anglais). The incorporation of hunting music into a symphony surely came as a shock to audiences in the 1760s. The 'Philosopher' nichname captured some thing of the work's thoughtful atmosphere.

Symphony No. 29 reveals serious and intense qualities from the quiet opening Allegro to the dignified elegance of the Andante and rare energy of the Minuet. Mozart thought sufficiently highly of the work to introduce it when he settled in Vienna.
 
Plus: Pre-Concert Talk - soloists and musicians talk about the musical programme, and The Encore - an informal selection of lighter music performed by CLS musicians in the foyer following the concert.