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PLEASE NOTE 1: Click the small cross to the left of a performer's name to see a biography
PLEASE NOTE 2: Philharmonia Britannica reserves the right to change programmes and/or soloists as necessary
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Mozart: Requiem
Saturday 12 January 2019, 5.30 pm (stet)
St John's, Waterloo Rd,
London SE1 8TY
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It was in early July 1791 that an 'unknown, gray stranger' turned up at Mozart's door saying he
represented someone who wanted a Requiem from Mozart on the understanding that he not seek to
learn the identity of his patron. Spooked by the commission, Mozart threw himself obsessively into the work.
But it was all too much. He was only able to complete the Requiem and Kyrie movements,
and managed to sketch the voice parts and bass lines for the Dies irae through to the Hostias. Mozart died
aged 35 on 5 December 1791, before he could complete the work.
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Peter Fender Conductor
WA Mozart Requiem Mass
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Stroking Ivory and Horsehair ...
Saturday 6 April 2019, 7.30 pm
St John's, Waterloo Rd,
London SE1 8TY
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Heroic Strokes of the Bow was written by Judith Weir in response to a painting of the same name
by Paul Klee. She writes that it 'may recall an earlier symphonic work with the word 'Heroic' in the title'.
Energetic violins predominate, encompassing moments of restlessness then leading to a spacious close.
Britten's Sinfonietta was written at the age of 18 and was in his own opinion his first 'mature' work, thus
earning itself place as his opus 1. This colouful work shows off the 10 solo instruments, with much vigour
and drive, but with brief but poignant asides.
Brahms' second piano concerto is a wonderful combination of form and content,
of virtuosity and introspection, of music both symphonic and chamber in nature. Brahms never said so much in
a piece of music, nor in so personal a manner.
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Peter Fender Conductor
Ugnius Pauliukonis Piano
Judith Weir Heroic Strokes of the Bow
Britten Sinfonietta
Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 in Bb
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Mahler and Messiaen: Different philosophical perspectives
Sunday 30 June 2019, 7.30 pm
St Mark's Church, Camden Town,
London NW1 7TN
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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 10th 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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