Lecture Concerts
Throughout its existence the Arion Orchestra has pursued a policy (and it is one of the many reasons for its existence) of trying to widen the general public's knowledge and understanding of music – the awareness of listening to, and being drawn into, the world of so-called classical music, without bewilderment, antagonism or the attitude "this is not for me".
Whilst music contributes to mental and spiritual wellbeing, it demands more than the superficial attention span often imposed by the present pace of everyday living. Perhaps an explanation in a familiar language of speech can help towards an understanding of the less accessible language of music. The riches and rewards of music will not yield without effort.
For many years, until the recession curtailed such activities, the Arion gave an annual Lecture Concert for the University of Reading. Nevertheless, the orchestra has continued to feature within its programmes music where the conductor, Brien Stait, has talked, in non-technical terms, about the work to be played, and the orchestra has illustrated these talks. The public response has been so favourable that, today, a "difficult" work in any concert will normally be explained and illustrated in this way before being performed in its entirety.
In the past numerous works have been presented using this format. Whilst there are too many to list in full, they include:
Shostakovich:Symphony No. 5 and Chamber Symphony Op. 110a
Nielsen:Symphony No. 5
Panufnik:Violin Concerto
Tippett:Concerto for double string orchestra
Recent works that have been treated in this way include:
Bartok – Divertimento for string orchestra
Rautavaara – "The Fiddlers"
Britten – "Les Illuminations"
Throughout its existence the Arion Orchestra has pursued a policy (and it is one of the many reasons for its existence) of trying to widen the general public's knowledge and understanding of music – the awareness of listening to, and being drawn into, the world of so-called classical music, without bewilderment, antagonism or the attitude "this is not for me".
Whilst music contributes to mental and spiritual wellbeing, it demands more than the superficial attention span often imposed by the present pace of everyday living. Perhaps an explanation in a familiar language of speech can help towards an understanding of the less accessible language of music. The riches and rewards of music will not yield without effort.
For many years, until the recession curtailed such activities, the Arion gave an annual Lecture Concert for the University of Reading. Nevertheless, the orchestra has continued to feature within its programmes music where the conductor, Brien Stait, has talked, in non-technical terms, about the work to be played, and the orchestra has illustrated these talks. The public response has been so favourable that, today, a "difficult" work in any concert will normally be explained and illustrated in this way before being performed in its entirety.
In the past numerous works have been presented using this format. Whilst there are too many to list in full, they include:
Shostakovich:Symphony No. 5 and Chamber Symphony Op. 110a
Nielsen:Symphony No. 5
Panufnik:Violin Concerto
Tippett:Concerto for double string orchestra
Recent works that have been treated in this way include:
Bartok – Divertimento for string orchestra
Rautavaara – "The Fiddlers"
Britten – "Les Illuminations"
Arion Orchestra
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