NOSPR/Ponomarchuk/British Portraits

There have been crises in the rich history of British music. The greatest came with the end of the 17th century and the death of Henry Purcell. The islands were then dominated by Italian and German styles. The revival did not occur until the beginning of the 20th century, and its authors were Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The latter, for inspiration, turned to the work of his Renaissance predecessor. The fantasy of Thomas Tallis (1910) refers to the Renaissance polyphonic form, and the main melody is the canvas for new ideas, introduced as its counterpoints. Vaughan Williams demonstrates mastery of vocal guidance, but also sensitivity to harmony and timbre. The British unanimously point to Fantasy as a turning point in the history of their music. A similar role in the work of Vaughan Williams Elgar, almost a generation older than Vaughan Williams, is played by Variations of “Enigma”. In them, the composer combined a romantic aura of mystery with a classic form of variation to create a theme and fourteen miniatures: musical portraits of friends, wife, colleagues and himself. The mystery of the title remains unsolved — it is supposed to be a musical theme that is not heard, and on which all parts of the work are based. As some suggest, however, this is a non-musical idea that we will probably never get to know. Which in no way prevents you from listening to the great music of Elgar.

Piotr Matwejczuk (Polish Radio)

Morning Stop - free workshops for children between the ages of 4 and 6 whose parents or other guardians are present at the symphonic morning. Email registrations are valid, please send applications to the following address: przystanekporanek@nospr.org.pl

More concerts as part of the S3 Symphony Concert Series.

Artists: NOSPR

Program: Ralph Vaughan Williams — Fantasia on Thomas Tallis; Edward Elgar — Enigma Variations Op. 36