Yvonne Schwerdt begins with a work by an emerging Australian composer, Andrew Blyth. Blyth was a presenter at 3MBS during the 1980s. As a composer his works often border between classical and popular music. His early composition, Three Pieces was originally written for piano but recently it was re-worked it for strings. Tonight, it will be played by the Emerald Orchestra conducted by Blyth. Following his period of writing avant-garde music during the 1920s Shostakovich wrote his Cello Sonata Op 40 (1934) which is a graceful and very approachable work. It is one of the great 20th century cello music compositions rarely absent from the concert hall. Sue-Ellen Paulsen, principal cello with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is accompanied by Gabriella Smart, piano. The American composer, David Diamond, attempted to express important literary ideas in a programmatic musical form when he composed his Fantasia, ‘The Enormous Room’ (1948). It is a restrained elegy inspired by E. E. Cummings autobiographical novel of the same name which expresses sympathy for all those who suffer from the ruthless absurdities of war. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Gerard Schwarz. The Clarinet Quintet (1932) by Arthur Bliss is widely regarded as one of his finest works. It consists of a lyrical opening movement, an elegy for the composer’s brother, a clarinettist, who was killed on the Somme during World War 1. The concluding movement is an exciting playful, colourful piece. Both David Campbell, clarinet, and the Maggini Quartet excel with their performance of this work. During the 1920s Aaron Copland was determined to establish an American sound in his music. He projected the energetic rhythms and catch melodies of jazz in his works. The ‘Music for Theatre’ (1925) is a Suite for Small Orchestra. It has a bluesy-jazzy feel and is brim-full of youthful energy suggesting a theatrical atmosphere. The New York Philharmonic is conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Finally, Elena Kats-Chernin’s “Maple in the Evening’, inspired by a work by the enigmatic Erik Satie, will be played by Tamara-Anna Cislowska, piano.

John Pederson begins with a work by the eighteenth century English composer, Thomas Arne, whose works, today, remain enormously popular. Arne’s Overture No 8 in G minor is one of eight Overtures he composed which showcase his mastery in blending French and Italian styles. The Academy of Ancient Music is directed by Christopher Hogwood. The top rank German late Baroque composer, Christoph Graupner, composed his Magnificat for Christmas 1722 to support of a job application. It is an impressive recent discovery and a welcome addition to the repertoire. The Rastatter Hofkapelle is directed by Jurgen Ochs. Bach’s Art of Fugue BWV 1080 tends toward a spiritual experience. It is an incomplete or unfinished final work of unspecified instrumentation which has generated a wonderful plurality of performance styles. The work consists of fourteen fugues arranged in order of increasing complexity. The first fugue introduces the main theme which is elaborated in the succeeding fugues. The Art of Fugue is a masterpiece which affects both the heart and the head. The Akademie Fur Alte Musik Berlin is directed by Stephan Mai. The Italian-born, London-based composer, Francesco Geminiani, had been a student of Corelli. His works have a reputation for being innovative and unpredictable. During his lifetime the Concerto Grosso was a popular form of music. Geminiani’s Concerto Grosso in E minor Op 3 No 3 (1732) will be played by the Van Dieman’s Band. Lastly, Sir Langton’s Pavan is one of several battle Galliards Dowland wrote which imitates the sound of battle. It will be played by the lutenist, Christopher Wilson.

Michel Owen presents a showcase of attractive works. Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Suite consists of light, floristic, subtle orchestrations of four piano pieces from Book V of his Opus 54. The BBC Philharmonic is conducted by John Stogarde. Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No 2 Op 16, titled ‘The Four Temperaments’, received its name because each of the four movements is a musical sketch of one of the personality types theorized in Ancient Greece. It could be thought of as a Suite of Moods rather than as a Symphony. This work was championed by Busoni and has always been one of Nielsen’s most popular works. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Osko Vanska. When Niel Gade composed his Violin Concerto in D minor Op 56 Mendelssohn immediately recognized its merits and championed it. Anton Kontra, violin is with the Malmo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paavo Javi. The Symphony No 7 in F major Op 45 by Gade is also a compelling work which will be played by the Stockholm Sinfonietta conducted by Paavo Javi.

In this hectic and materialistic age we live in the music of Chopin seems to be in a class of its own. In this program Keith Hempton will present a wonderful Chopin recital by Anna Goldsworthy.

Chris Stone presents what has always been a very popular opera. Rossini’s ‘La Cenerentola or Goodness Triumphant’ is a staple of the standard repertoire. Its light, vivacious, tuneful score perfectly matches the comical libretto. To facilitate staging Rossini made a few changes to the original fairytale: The slipper is replaced by a bracelet, the wicked stepmother is, instead, a stepfather, The fairy godmother is replaced by a philosopher, and there is no pumpkin. Teresa Berganza, mezzo-soprano, enjoyed a reputation at the forefront of the ‘lighter than air’ bel canto revival which began in the 1950s. Since then, Rossini’s La Cenerentola has been as popular as it was during the nineteenth century. Teresa Berganza, m-s Luigi Alva, tenor Scottish Opera Chorus London Symphony Orchestra Claudio Abbado, conductor

William Booker begins with an interesting work from the early Classical Era. Unlike his composer brothers, albeit some of them equally talented, the compositions of J.C Bach tended to be urbane and blessed with a Mozartian grace. His Overture Alessandro nell’Indie is a slight exception to his usual style. It celebrates the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great. It will be played by the marvellous Hanover Band directed by Anthony Halstead. We advance ahead in time to 1897 for the Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor by Theodore Dubois which is a significant Romantic Era work. It is melodious with a virtuosic cadenza in the first movement. It is a work you would want to listen to repeatedly. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Andrew Manze with the pianist, Cedric Tiberghien. The Finnish, Erkki Melartin, was a painter as well as a composer. And art goes a long way in telling the prospective listener what is in store re his Symphony No 2. A ‘solitary autumnal melody’ has been quoted as appearing in some of the passages. It is a delightful nature symphony that gives the listener a sense of place and season. The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Leonid Grin. Joaquin Rodrigo is best known for his Spanish works for guitar and orchestra but there are exceptional works of his that lie outside this genre. His Summer Concerto (1943) for Violin and Orchestra, is inexplicably, today, not often featured in concerts and recordings and it is time this work is brought back into the limelight. The London Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Enrique Batiz with Agustin Leon Ara, violin. Miaskovsky’s Symphonic Poem, Molchaniye, Op 9 (1910) was inspired by a poem by Edgar Alan Poe which explores the duality of the word, ‘Silence’ which can conjure up feelings of comfort or dread. The Russian State Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov. Also include in this program is John Gardner’s Prelude Op 148a, played by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, which is full of joyful memorable melodies.

Suzanne Pederson’s musical offerings are ground-breaking this evening. The String Quartet in C minor (1936) is Frederick May’s masterpiece. This work is a forward looking landmark in the canon of Irish music because, for he first time, it introduces modernism to the music of Ireland. It is certain to appeal to all admirers of late romantic-early twentieth century chamber music and is played by the Vanbrugh Quartet. Hummel wrote his Septet in D minor Op 74 (1816) when his career as a composer was in the ascent. The work was a runaway success, surpassed in quality only by works of Beethoven. It will be played by the Melos Ensemble which consists of twelve musicians enabling the performance of works of mixed instrumentation. From an early age the German born and trained composer, Aloys Fleishmann felt that his destiny lay in pursuing the music of Ireland. There is some powerful piano writing included in the impassioned Piano Quintet (1939) of Fleischmann which Is handled expertly by the Irish-born pianist, Hugh Tinney together with Cork-based Vanbrugh String Quartet. Lastly, Robert Schumann’s intensely romantic Piano Trio No 1 in D minor Op 63 (1847) is the most celebrated of his piano trios. It will be played by The Vienna Brahms Trio.

Suzanne Pederson presents a stimulating Nocturne Program. Carl Czerny was a pedagogue but when it came to composition he would entertain and delight. His Symphony in D major Op 781 will be played by the Staatsorchester, Frankfurt conducted by Nikos Athinaos. The String Sonata No 2 in A major was written with lilt and swagger by the 12 years old Rossini. It will be played by the Rossini Ensemble Budapest. William Grant Still’s symphonic poem, ‘Africa’ is a wonderful jazzy work. African-American forms including jazz, spirituals and the blues appear within a neo-romantic framework. The banjo- led scherzo gives it an authentic period flavour. The Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra is conducted by John Jeter. Lastly, Chopin’s mastery of the ‘small’ pieces like preludes and waltzes was indisputable but there was initially a lack of confidence about how successful he would be managing the composition of the larger forms. As it turned out, however, his Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor Op 58, a lengthy work, was quickly accepted as a monumental masterpiece and remains very popular today. This final work in the Nocturne program will be played with deep feeling and close attention to detail by Emil Gilels who is acknowledged as one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century,