Author: Noriko Tsuzaki

The grand finale that transcends worlds—from the ethereal realms of video games to the epic landscapes of cinema. This concert celebrates the power of music to craft worlds, evoke heroes, and conjure dragons, featuring iconic scores from Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and legendary video game series like World of Warcraft.

As we journey from the computer screen to the big screen, the concert culminates in the timeless majesty of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, showcasing the transformative power of storytelling through sound.

Elgar’s elegiac Romance for Bassoon and Orchestra is paired with Harold Truscott’s intense Elegy and Fribbins’s Folk Songs for Viola and Chamber Orchestra, its three movements focusing on melodies from Wales, Serbia and Hungary. These aural peregrinations take the music east towards Soviet Russia, and the first Flute Concerto by Mieczysław Weinberg, composed in 1961. Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 10, composed in 1964, was dedicated to Weinberg, his close friend. In this arrangement by Rudolf Barshai it takes on the guise of a concentrated but epic Chamber Symphony.

Join the English String Orchestra for an evening of musical transformation under the visionary baton of conductor Kenneth Woods, with the remarkable cellist Raphael Wallfisch. This program showcases compositions that morph familiar themes into expansive new soundscapes, highlighting the transformative power of music.

The concert begins with Arensky’s “Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky,” where a simple melodic line is reimagined through a series of complex, emotive variations. Each piece acts as a musical metamorphosis, turning the original theme into a richly textured emotional journey that explores the depths and nuances of orchestral expression.

Following this, Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme” takes center stage, featuring its original, unaltered structure that harks back to classical elegance while infusing it with romantic flair. Raphael Wallfisch’s cello becomes the agent of change, drawing out the subtleties of Tchaikovsky’s homage to the past and reinterpreting them through the lens of lush, late-romantic orchestration.

Mieczysław Weinberg’s “Concertino for Cello” further explores the theme of transformation. This piece moves through light and shadow, its melodies bending and shifting to reflect the composer’s personal and historical challenges, transforming adversity into art with every note played.

Immerse yourself in an evening of heroic exploits and supernatural intrigue with the English Symphony Orchestra, expertly guided by conductor Kenneth Woods. This extraordinary concert features three seminal works, each resonating with tales of heroes and mystical forces that have enthralled audiences for generations.

The program begins with Weber’s Overture to “Der Freischütz,” a masterpiece steeped in the supernatural. This powerful overture evokes a world where dark forces and heroic human spirits collide, its melodies swirling with the thrill of the chase and the suspense of the unknown. Prepare to be transported into a mystical forest where every note hints at hidden enchantments and epic tales.

The spellbinding journey continues with Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, showcasing the extraordinary talents of violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen. Known for its deep emotional core and exquisite lyricism, this concerto is a profound exploration of the heroic within us, its passionate themes woven by the solo violin’s virtuosic strands, soaring over an orchestral backdrop that complements every dramatic crescendo.

The evening culminates with Beethoven’s revolutionary “Eroica” Symphony No. 3, a work that dramatically reshapes the landscape of classical music with its bold, heroic themes. This symphony, more than any other, captures the spirit of the hero’s journey, from struggle to triumph, embodying Beethoven’s own defiance against adversity. Under the dynamic leadership of Kenneth Woods, the orchestra will unleash the full power and beauty of this monumental work, leaving you inspired and exhilarated.