Folks have been asking where they can hear Nicholas Collon, the exciting young British conductor we went to hear with the Philharmonia last Fall and whom we’re delighted has joined the FSA roster. His guest conducting appearances and eclectic Warner recordings and BBC Proms performances with his Aurora Orchestra (playing the Mozart G Minor and Beethoven Sixth Symphonies from memory), have attracted international attention. It’s easy to see why.
Since summer sometimes gives folks a chance to make new discoveries, please do take a look at the Nicholas Collon performances this summer and fall and see what’s possible for you. There’s lots of interesting repertoire and it does seem as if FIVE is his lucky number of the moment. There’s Beethoven # 5 (from memory) at the end of May on tour with Aurora; Sibelius # 5 with the RPO on June 8, 9 & 14 (London); and Shostakovich # 5 in October with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
June also offers Britten, Debussy and Adams at Aldeburgh. July opens with a delicious Ravel program in Brussels (and a chance to get some of their great chocolate) and brings Aurora back to the BBC Proms on the 31st with the Jupiter Symphony. There’s a wonderful Romeo and Juliet program with the Residente in August. He’s back with the Philharmonia on December 1 with Walton # 1, a great piece that I remember with pleasure from Simon Rattle’s performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
BRITTEN: Les Illuminations
BRITTEN: Young Apollo
DEBUSSY: String Quartet
ADAMS: Shaker Loops
Collaboration with circus performers and director Struan Leslie
12
JUN
ALDEBURGH
Venue: Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Featuring: Sarah Tynan (soprano)
BRITTEN: Les Illuminations
BRITTEN: Young Apollo
DEBUSSY: String Quartet
ADAMS: Shaker Loops
Collaboration with circus performers and director Struan Leslie
13
JUN
ALDEBURGH
BRITTEN: Les Illuminations
BRITTEN: Young Apollo
DEBUSSY: String Quartet
ADAMS: Shaker Loops
Collaboration with circus performers and director Struan Leslie
Featuring: David Kadouch (piano), Anne-Catherine Gillet (soprano)
RAVEL: Sheherazade
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G major
RAVEL: Miroirs – Oiseaux tristes (arr. C.Matthews)
RAVEL: La Valse
31
JUL
BBC PROMS
Venue: Royal Albert Hall
Featuring: François Leleux (oboe)
RIHM: Gejagte Form
STRAUSS: Oboe Concerto
MOZART: Symphony No 41
28
AUG
RESIDENTIE ORKEST
Venue: Het Concertgebouw
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet Overture
PROKOFIEV: Roméo and Juliet Suite (selection)
BERLIOZ: Romeo & Juliet Love Scene
BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
17
SEP
AURORA ORCHESTRA
Venue: Kings Place
Featuring: Cédric Tibergien (piano), Thomas Gould (violin)
PAGANINI: Caprice for Solo Violin No 5
MOZART: Piano Concerto No 5 K175 in D major
LISZT: Le mal du pays
MOZART: Piano Concerto No 6 K238 in B-flat major
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No 4 ‘Italian’
20
SEP
RESIDENTIE ORKEST
Venue: Zuiderstrandt Theatre, Den Haag
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet Overture
PROKOFIEV: Roméo and Juliet Suite (selection)
BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
07
OCT
AURORA ORCHESTRA
Venue: Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Featuring: Francois Leleux (oboe)
DEAN: “Testament for Orchestra” (Australia)
STRAUSS: Concerto in D major for Oboe and Small Orchestra
MOZART: Symphony No 41 in C major K551 Jupiter
13
OCT
ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Venue: Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Featuring: Ben Mellefont (clarinet)
BERLIOZ: Beatrice & Benedict Overture
MOZART: Clarinet Concerto in A Major K622
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No 5
14
OCT
ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Venue: Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Featuring: Ben Mellefont (clarinet)
BERLIOZ: Beatrice & Benedict Overture
MOZART: Clarinet Concerto in A Major K622
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No 5
25
OCT
RESIDENTIE ORKEST
Venue: Het Concertgebouw
Featuring: Hannes Minnaar (piano)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet Overture
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G major
PROKOFIEV: Roméo and Juliet Suite (selection)
28
OCT
RESIDENTIE ORKEST
Venue: Zuiderstrandt Theatre, Den Haag
Orchestra: Residentie Orkest
BERLIOZ: Love Scene from Romeo and Juliet
WALTON: Cello Concerto
BRAHMS: Symphony No 3
29
OCT
RESIDENTIE ORKEST
Venue: Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ
Featuring: Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Alexander Rudin (cello)
WALTON: Cello Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Concerto No 2
25
NOV
RTE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Venue: National Concert Hall, Dublin
Featuring: Andreas Brantelid (cello)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on Theme of Thomas Tallis
TCHAIKOVSKY: Rococo Variations
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No 15
30
NOV
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Venue: De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Featuring: Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on Theme of Thomas Tallis
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G major
WALTON: Symphony No 1
01
DEC
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Venue: Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall
Featuring: Francesco Piemontesi (piano)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on Theme of Thomas Tallis
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G major
WALTON: Symphony No 1
16
DEC
AURORA ORCHESTRA
Venue: Kings Place
Featuring: Laura Melda (piano), Martin James Bartlett (piano)
MOZART: Piano Concerto No 7
SAINT-SAENS: Carnival of the Animals
RAVEL: Mother Goose Suite
MOZART: Symphony No 31