Arion Orchestra
"...Très élégant and always musical."
(Paul Tortelier)
(Paul Tortelier)
Registered Charity 276226 Copyright © 2012 Arion Arts Tel/Fax: 01189 472 547
Review from the last concert:
'Lively canvas of colourful music'
Music at Douai: Arion Orchestra with Evelyn Glennie,
at Douai Abbey Upper Woolhampton,
on Saturday, March 9
BRIEN Stait and the magnificent Arion Orchestra returned to Douai to give a performance full of life and musical colour. Dame Evelyn Glennie's appearance ensured a full house.
The string orchestra opened with Vaughan Williams' popular Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. They used the abbey acoustic brilliantly, keeping the pace steady and the dynamics down, letting the echo do some of the work. The effect was cathedral-like, eerie at times, especially in the harmonies of the second orchestra part. The music became grandiose with a rich, full sound, swelling and falling like waves on a pebble beach. The solo violins, viola and cello were clear and precise.
'Lively canvas of colourful music'
Music at Douai: Arion Orchestra with Evelyn Glennie,
at Douai Abbey Upper Woolhampton,
on Saturday, March 9
BRIEN Stait and the magnificent Arion Orchestra returned to Douai to give a performance full of life and musical colour. Dame Evelyn Glennie's appearance ensured a full house.
The string orchestra opened with Vaughan Williams' popular Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. They used the abbey acoustic brilliantly, keeping the pace steady and the dynamics down, letting the echo do some of the work. The effect was cathedral-like, eerie at times, especially in the harmonies of the second orchestra part. The music became grandiose with a rich, full sound, swelling and falling like waves on a pebble beach. The solo violins, viola and cello were clear and precise.
Eveyln Glennie played two very different concertos. Her trademark Concerto for Marimba and Strings by contemporary Brazilian percussionist and composer Ney Rosauro was exciting. After a lively. Opening movement, the conductor introduced two rainforest sounds - insects played on harmonics by solo violin and a bullfrog pizzicato on double bass. These were then heard in the Lament, which evoked the forest at night. The sound of the marimba, placed well forward of the chancel arch, floated serenely above the energetic strings in the Dance. In the final joyful Farewell Glennie's cadenza was mesmeric.
The plaintive sound of the piccolo in Vivaldi's Piccolo Concerto in C major was replaced by the irrepressibly jolly, metallic sound of the vibraphone. The final movement was a triumph of dexterity and received enthusiastic applause.
A jewel of a piece, Les Plaisirs by Francois Dompierre was a delicious, light serenade, with a quartet playing the melody and pizzicato accompaniment by the orchestra.
Another hugely successful novelty was Stait's arrangement of the first part of Mendelssohn's Octet for full string orchestra. The result was a grand, romantic affair which Mendelssohn might well have enjoyed.
Khachaturian's Waltz from the Masquerade Suite, taken at a stately pace, completed the rich canvas of an enjoyable evening.
In the Douai Abbey tradition we were treated to a final, reflective piece: Dido's Lament from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.
EILEEN CASTER
Newbury Weekly News
The plaintive sound of the piccolo in Vivaldi's Piccolo Concerto in C major was replaced by the irrepressibly jolly, metallic sound of the vibraphone. The final movement was a triumph of dexterity and received enthusiastic applause.
A jewel of a piece, Les Plaisirs by Francois Dompierre was a delicious, light serenade, with a quartet playing the melody and pizzicato accompaniment by the orchestra.
Another hugely successful novelty was Stait's arrangement of the first part of Mendelssohn's Octet for full string orchestra. The result was a grand, romantic affair which Mendelssohn might well have enjoyed.
Khachaturian's Waltz from the Masquerade Suite, taken at a stately pace, completed the rich canvas of an enjoyable evening.
In the Douai Abbey tradition we were treated to a final, reflective piece: Dido's Lament from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.
EILEEN CASTER
Newbury Weekly News
Brien Stait Memorial Concert in aid of Cancer Research UK
28 February 2015: St James's Church, Piccadilly, London at 7:30pm
It is now almost a year since Brien Stait, the founder and conductor of the Arion Orchestra, passed away.
In the period since that sad day, many of the musicians with whom he had worked over the years and, in particular, the members of the Arion Orchestra, expressed the view that it would be appropriate to celebrate his life through some form of musical event.
We have, therefore, organised a concert in his memory, which will take place at St James's Church, Piccadilly, London at 7:30pm on 28 February 2015. The programme, which is set out below, incorporates music with which Brien had a special connection.
Both Raphaela Papadakis (soprano) and Masayuki Tayama (piano) have agreed to take part. Raphaela and Masa are both brilliant young soloists who performed with Brien and the Arion Orchestra in recent years.
If you would like to come to the concert, you can book tickets on-line at
http://arionorchestra.brownpapertickets.com
or by telephone on 0800 4118881 [after the introductory message for Brown Paper Tickets, you will need to press '1' when prompted in order to speak to an operator, and explain that you want to book tickets for the 'Brien Stait Memorial Concert'].
All of the ticket proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK.
We do hope that you will be able to join us for this special event, in memory of a very special man and in a good cause.
28 February 2015: St James's Church, Piccadilly, London at 7:30pm
It is now almost a year since Brien Stait, the founder and conductor of the Arion Orchestra, passed away.
In the period since that sad day, many of the musicians with whom he had worked over the years and, in particular, the members of the Arion Orchestra, expressed the view that it would be appropriate to celebrate his life through some form of musical event.
We have, therefore, organised a concert in his memory, which will take place at St James's Church, Piccadilly, London at 7:30pm on 28 February 2015. The programme, which is set out below, incorporates music with which Brien had a special connection.
Both Raphaela Papadakis (soprano) and Masayuki Tayama (piano) have agreed to take part. Raphaela and Masa are both brilliant young soloists who performed with Brien and the Arion Orchestra in recent years.
If you would like to come to the concert, you can book tickets on-line at
http://arionorchestra.brownpapertickets.com
or by telephone on 0800 4118881 [after the introductory message for Brown Paper Tickets, you will need to press '1' when prompted in order to speak to an operator, and explain that you want to book tickets for the 'Brien Stait Memorial Concert'].
All of the ticket proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK.
We do hope that you will be able to join us for this special event, in memory of a very special man and in a good cause.