The penultimate concert of the season on Saturday 18th April is a very special one for us as we're tackling the biggest challenge of this season, Richard Strauss's epic tone poem 'A Hero's Life'. A great, rich, swaggering romantic panorama of a piece, it's a challenge for us, but a treat for listeners. For this concert we are delighted to welcome back the distinguished American conductor Kenneth Woods, who we have been fortunate enough to work with regularly in the past.
Another bold young man's work takes up the first half, Beethoven's First Symphony. It was written around the turn of the nineteenth century and in some ways is very much in the tradition of Mozart and Haydn. But it's a big piece by classical standards, and was very modern for its day, challenging audiences with its groundbreaking ambition.
There is no designated soloist, but the orchestra's leader has a solo part in the Strauss – portraying the hero's 'helpmate' – which is like a mini concerto in itself. This is a chance to shine for our leader Jem Bradley, a soloist in his own right.
The venue is as usual the Evans Theatre in Wilmslow Leisure Centre, and the starting time is 7.45pm.
Tickets cost £12 (concessions £10) and can be bought at the door, or through the ticket hotline on 01925 756144, or through the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra website, or at Bang & Olufsen in Wilmslow.
Photo: Conductor Kenneth Woods
Guest post by Dermot Gault.
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