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London Symphony Orchestra: A Tribute to Colin Davis

Live from the Barbican in London, Martin Handley introduces the London Symphony Orchestra's own tribute to Sir Colin Davis, including music by Mozart, Beethoven and Berlioz.

Live from the Barbican Hall in London.

Presented by Martin Handley.

The London Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to their late President and Principal Conductor Sir Colin Davis, who died in April. The programme has been chosen to reflect Sir Colin's life in music, from his championing of composers such as Berlioz to his lifelong support for young musicians.

Richard Strauss: Festmusik der Stadt Wien
(Students from the Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School
Patrick Harrild conductor)

Berlioz: Overture: Le Corsair
(Joseph Wolfe conductor)

Mozart: Violin Concerto No 3, K216
(Nikolaj Znaider violin-director)

8.20: Interval

8.40: Beethoven: Symphony No 8
(Gordan Nikolich director)

Brahms: Nänie
(London Symphony Chorus, Nikolaj Znaider conductor)

London Symphony Orchestra
Directed by Joseph Wolfe, Nikolaj Znaider and Gordan Nikolich

Sir Colin Davis specified that there should be no memorial service held for him: so instead the London Symphony Orchestra have decided to transform the concerts he was still scheduled to conduct into their own tribute to him. Reflecting his work with young musicians, the opening piece is played by students from two London colleges - Sir Colin held the Academy's International Chair of Conducting and Orchestral Studies. His son Joseph Wolfe conducts Sir Colin's beloved Berlioz, then Danish violinist and conductor Nikolaj Znaider directs the LSO in Mozart - Sir Colin once said "There is so much negative nonsense talked about Mozart, but he is - well, he's life itself". Sir Colin and Znaider had planned to play the work together.

Following the interval, the work that first inspired the teenage Colin Davis to become a conductor, directed by Gordan Nikolich, who was Leader of the LSO for many years under Sir Colin. The concert closes with Brahms's rarely-performed funeral song 'Nänie', a setting of a poem by Friedrich Schiller, which Brahms wrote in memory of a close friend.

2 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tue 18 Jun 2013 19:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - opera seria in 2 acts

  • London S O

    • Richard Strauss

      Festmusik der Stadt Wien AV.133 for brass and percussion [1943]

      Conductor: Patrick Harrild Performer: Guildhall School Symphonic Wind Ensemble Performer: Royal Academy Symphony Brass

    • Hector Berlioz

      Le Corsaire - overture Op.21

      Conductor: Joseph Wolfe Performer: London Symphony Orchestra

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Concerto no. 3 in G major K.216 for violin and orchestra

      Performer: London Symphony Orchestra Performer: Nikolaj Znaider

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Symphony no. 8 in F major Op.93

      Performer: Gordan Nikolic Performer: London Symphony Orchestra

    • Johannes Brahms

      Nanie Op.82 for chorus and orchestra

      Conductor: Nikolaj Znaider Performer: London Symphony Orchestra Performer: London Symphony Chorus

    • Edward Elgar

      Sospiri Op.70 vers. for str, harp & org

      Conductor: Joseph Wolfe Performer: London Symphony Orchestra

Broadcast

  • Tue 18 Jun 2013 19:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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