Saturday 26th April at 7.30pm
CHESTER ORCHESTRA SET TO STAGE A CELEBRATION OF CLASSICAL BALLET AND DANCE MUSIC WITH CATHEDRAL CONCERT.
Final rehearsals are underway as one of Chester’s leading orchestras prepares to stage a concert which will celebrate the music of classical ballet and dance. The concert, set to be staged in the historic surroundings of Chester Cathedral on Saturday 26th April at 7.30pm will feature music by composers including Weber, Stravinsky and Khachaturian.
Chester Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined on stage by guest Conductor Stephen Thelfall. The concert, which continues the Orchestra’s theme of song and dance for its 2024/25 season will feature performances of the overture from ‘Invitation to the Dance’ by Carl Maria von Weber, Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky, the Waltz from the ‘Masquerade Suite’ and the energetic ‘Sabre Dance’ from the Ballet ‘Gayeneh’ by Aram Khachaturian and music from Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev.
Written by Carl Maria von Weber in 1819 in the form of a rondo, ‘Invitation to the Dance’ was re-orchestrated in 1841 by Hector Berlioz and it is this version that Chester Philharmonic Orchestra will perform during the concert at Chester Cathedral.
The Firebird (L’Oiseau de feu) is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1910 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company. Based on the Russian fairy tales of the Firebird and the blessing and curse it possesses for its owner, it was first performed at the Opéra de Paris on 25 June 1910. Stravinsky subsequently wrote three concert suites based on the original score, in 1911, 1919 and 1945. The 1919 suite remains the most popular and widely performed concert version today.
Khachaturian’s ‘Masquerade Suite’ was written in 1941 as incidental music for the play of the same name by Russian poet and playwright Mikhail Lermontov. ‘Sabre Dance’ from the Ballet “Gayeneh” written in 1942 is widely acknowledged as the most recognisable all Khachaturian’s compositions. It has been performed and recorded by many artists, including pop stars over the years. It also features in numerous films, TV shows and video games.
Originally written by Prokofiev in 1935 for his Ballet based on Shakespeare’s celebrated play of the same name, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ received its premiere at the Mahen Theatre, Brno in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) in 1938. The score was revised in early 1940 and three orchestral suites were subsequently created for concert performances.
The orchestra will be joined by guest conductor Stephen Threlfall. Formally Director of Music at Chetham’s School of Music, Stephen Threlfall is a highly acclaimed conductor with many years’ experience directing orchestras and ensembles. A passionate and dedicated musician, for many years, Stephen was sub-principal Cellist with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. As a conductor, he is committed to bring out the best from his players enabling them to deliver unforgettable musical experiences, Stephen is well known for his ability to communicate with musicians and audiences alike. He has received praise for his approach from Nina Bernstein-Simmons, daughter of celebrated conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, who said of Stephen “Stephen Threlfall reminded me so much of my father as he moulded their performances, always leading with love, never fear.”
Stephen was instrumental in spearheading the ambitious project to build a new state-of -the-art concert hall at Chetham’s and devised the opening celebrations of The Stoller Hall in 2017. He also curated a number of special events and performances throughout 2019 to celebrate Chetham’s 50th anniversary including a special performance of Mahler’s 8th Symphony which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. He has received acclaim for his numerous performances, recordings and broadcasts, having conducted at major venues and festivals throughout the UK and alongside many international solo artists. Stephen has appeared as a guest conductor in the USA, Europe and Scandanavia. Engagements with professional ensembles include the BBC Philharmonic Orchestras, Manchester Camerata, The Hanover Band, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Transylvania State Philharmonic, Urals Philharmonic and most recently the Orchestra of Opera North. His work with choirs has included St George’s Singers, Leeds Festival Chorus, Chester Bach Singers, and Manchester Chamber Choir. In 2020, Stephen became Artistic Director of the Lake District Music Festival.
Full details of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra’s upcoming concert at Chester Cathedral can be found at www.chesterphilorchestra.co.uk where tickets can be booked online. Tickets can also be booked in person at the Chester Cathedral Box Office.
Paul Crofts
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 10th May at 7.30pm & Saturday 24th May at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Violinist Philip Chidell.
A popular Chester busker who last year fulfilled a long-held dream of creating his own orchestra is set to return to the stage at the city’s historic Town Hall.
Following the staging of 2 highly successful concerts last September, violinist Philip Chidell is set to return to Chester Town Hall for 3 special concerts on Saturday 10th May at 7.30pm and Saturday 24th May at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
This year, Philip’s orchestra will be much larger in size now featuring 18 talented young musicians. There will also be performances by surprise special guests. The concerts will showcase popular classical music as well as hits from the movies and the best of the West End and Broadway.
Philip began studying the violin aged six. Two years later, he was offered a place at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, becoming their youngest student at the time. Philip was soon performing around the UK, and at 13 played for the first time as a soloist with an orchestra. He has performed as a member of several ensembles and orchestras, in venues including the Bridgewater Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, Manchester Cathedral and St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Philip has since gone on to become one of the most recognisable and popular buskers in Chester city centre where he performs regularly during the summer months, serenading residents and visitors alike.
Philip said “When I launched this orchestra last September, I couldn’t have dreamed of getting such a positive response from the audience. In fact, we decided that two concerts wouldn’t be enough in future – so this time we have added a (much-requested) 2:30pm matinée performance, for those who would rather come along in the daytime. The orchestra has also nearly doubled in size, which is allowing us to play an even wider range of beautiful music. The group of musicians I’ve been lucky enough to assemble are some of the most gifted young performers I’ve ever met, each of them based in the north-west, and we are all so looking forward to being back on stage at Chester’s magnificent Town Hall. I hope the audiences will enjoy a wonderful evening (or afternoon!) of live music, with something for everyone.”
Full details of the concerts can be found at www.PhilipChidell.com where tickets can be booked online. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased in person at Chester Visitor Centre at Chester Town Hall.
Paul Crofts
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next production of 2025 will be the much-loved musical Annie!
First produced by Tip Top in 1992 at the Gateway Theatre it was Tip Top’s very first big musical. Now set to return to the Storyhouse stage.
Tickets~ http://www.tiptopproductions.co.uk
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________