​​Programme ​​​

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Gershwin - Strike up the Band  

​This energetic piece perfectly encapsulates Gershwin’s style of blending classical techniques with jazz idioms. Gershwin masterfully combines melodies that are both catchy and sophisticated, with sweeping lines in the strings and brass playing off each other. The music features characteristic jazz rhythms and harmonic progressions, which were groundbreaking at the time. Gershwin’s use of orchestral color is also remarkable, as he employs different sections of the orchestra in a way that feels both playful and polished. 

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Smyth - The Wreckers Overture

​The dark, brooding strings and ominous brass set the tone for the opera’s themes of betrayal and destruction. The music is full of tension, with dramatic shifts between quiet, contemplative moments and bold, forceful statements. There is a stark contrast between the lyrical moments and the more aggressive, stormy passages, which reflect the emotional turmoil of the opera. The slow, mournful theme introduced by the strings in the first section of the overture gives way to the more forceful brass motifs, leading to a dynamic climax that hints at the tragic events to come. 

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Shostakovich - Festive Overture

​This energetic, celebratory work is filled with bright fanfares, rhythmic drive, and vivid orchestral color. The piece opens with a bold, brass-heavy fanfare, before giving way to a lively, upbeat theme played by the strings and woodwinds. Shostakovich uses syncopated rhythms and playful motives to keep the music moving forward, while the brass section continues to dominate, adding a sense of grandeur. The overture is an example of Shostakovich’s skill in creating music that is both exciting and full of character, with a rhythmic vitality that propels the work forward. 

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Sibelius - Symphony No. 2

This sweeping, emotionally charged work, is full of dramatic contrasts. The first movement begins with a quiet, mysterious theme in the strings, which gradually builds in intensity. The second movement features one of the most iconic themes in the symphony—an aching, lyrical melody introduced by the strings and taken up by the woodwinds. This theme is both haunting and poignant, and it contrasts sharply with the more energetic and rhythmic third movement. The final movement is a powerful, triumphant statement, filled with sweeping brass lines and bold harmonic choices. ​