The Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra makes a welcome return to the Evans Leisure Centre in Wilmslow for the first concert of their 66th season on Saturday, 20th October at 7.45pm.
The concert programme features Tchaikovsky's romantically lyrical swansong, the Pathétique Symphony; Grieg's ever-popular first Peer Gynt suite and locally renowned oboist Alfred Pollard leads a concerto by Beethoven's Czech contemporary Krommer. The concert also welcomes back the ever popular Spanish conductor Juan Ortuňo.
Juan Ortuño, a Masters graduate in conducting from the Royal Northern College of Music, is Musical Director of the City of Manchester Opera and recently was appointed as principal conductor of the Classical Revolution Manchester, a project that brings classical music to new audiences in informal locations. As well as these appointments Juan has worked with numerous orchestras such as the Manchester Camerata and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Spanish Youth Orchestra among others.
Juan's family is steeped in musical tradition; both his parents were performers in the Spanish National Radio and Television Choir. However, his first ambition was to become an Astrophysicist in which he obtained a Bachelors Degree, whilst simultaneously studying voice, piano, and violin. Luckily for us he decided to focus on a career in music and earned degrees in orchestral and choral conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid.
Alfred Pollard the oboe soloist comes from a family of wind players; he was taught to play by his uncle Leonard, who was a professional oboist. His father was an accomplished flautist and another uncle was, for over forty years, principal bassoon of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.
Educated locally in Manchester at both school & university, Alfred enjoyed playing first oboe with the Manchester University Orchestra whilst studying medicine. Now resident in Hale, he has enjoyed a successful career at Stockport's Stepping Hill hospital for almost 30 years, where he is now a highly regarded consultant radiologist. His love of music led to him joining the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra where he has been principal oboe for many years. Recently he has performed concertos by Telemann and the Fasch Oboe Concerto in G minor with the Northern Baroque Ensemble and at the Saddleworth Festival, to critical acclaim.
Alfred says "that the Krommer I will be playing at the concert retains the rustic charm of the Czech coutryside and takes one on a journey to the world of Bohemian villages, woods & fields. There is a sense of fresh spontaneous melody with a cheerful character. Close your eyes and imagine you are in the garden of a Pivnice (a Czech pub) in Velké Popovice, perhaps sitting at a wooden table eating the classic dish of roast pork, sauerkraut and Czech dumpling washed down with the most delicious beer."
Come and listen and let Alfred take you on this journey. Krommer may not be as well known as Mozart, but is more fun and a little beer spilt on ones shirt can be discreetly wiped off with a finger without embarrassment; very useful for the amateur oboist! Now where's that beer...
Tickets prices, which include a copy of our professionally produced programme and concert notes, are £10 for adults and £2 for under 18s. Tickets are available in advance from either the ticket hot line on 01925 756144 or from Bang & Olufsen, Bank Square, Wilmslow. Patrons can also pay on the door on the evening subject to availability.
This is a member post by John Mills.
