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Heaven and Earth: Messiaen and Mahler
Sunday 30 June 2019, 7.30 pm
Venue: St John's Hyde Pk, Hyde Park Crescent,
London, W2 2QD
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The immensely colourful four 'symphonic meditations' by Messiaen called L'Ascension are, as he said himself,
"at the service of the dogmas of Catholic theology". That is evidenced by his exploration of
plainsong, but he goes much further than one might expect by using birdsong and Hindu thythms.
Originally for organ the music is intense and intensely religious.
In Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde there are is a strong Eastern philosophical influence throughout
the work, which is based on translations of Chinese poetry. It is a symphony in all but name -
Mahler not wishing to call it his 9th symphony due to superstition.
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Peter Fender Conductor
Anna Loveday Mezzo-soprano
John Upperton Tenor
Messiaen L'Ascension
Mahler Das Lied von der Erde
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Fantasy, Water and Finches
Saturday 12 October 2019, 7.30 pm
Venue: St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL
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Handel's evergreen Water Music and Mozart's great penultimate symphony nestle side by side with
two pieces for flute solo and orchestra. Faure's Fantasie - written as an examination piece for flute players at
the Paris Conservatoire - is full of charm and Vivaldi's Il Cardellino shows off the folo flute's virtuosic capabilities in its
ability to imitate the goldfinch.
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Peter Fender Conductor
Janina Byrne Flute
Handel Water Music Suites
Faure Fantasie
Vivaldi Flute Concerto 'Il cardellino'
Mozart Symphony No.40 in G minor
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Brahms Requiem
Saturday 18 January 2020, 5.30 pm (stet)
Venue: St John's Church, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TY
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A mass written more for those who mourn for the dead rather than for the dead themselves - and a very personal work for
Brahms as his mother had died in that very same year of 1865. The performance will be sung in German.
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Peter Fender Conductor
tbc Soprano
tbc Baritone
Brahms German Requiem
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