Ely Sinfonia presents
From Russia with Love
in Ely Cathedral
on Saturday 28th April 2018
at 7.30pm
with Ely Sinfonia
and Steve Bingham, conductor
With its rich, vibrant culture, Russia has produced some of the most exciting music ever written. Among it are three of the orchestra’s favourite pieces: Khachaturian’s Spartacus and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, both composed for the Russian ballet, and Tchaikovsky’s Little Russian Symphony. So they have brought them together in what promises to be a truly glorious concert.
Tchaikovsky used three Ukrainian folk tunes as the themes for his Symphony no 2. Ukraine was at the time known as Little Russia, so the symphony, which was an immediate success, rapidly became known as Little Russian.
Spartacus was made famous as the theme tune to The Onedin Line, but it was originally composed as a political ballet in which ordinary people rise up and overthrow their oppressors.
Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet has a rightful claim to be the world’s greatest ballet. Not only does it contain much of the composer’s finest and most appealing music, but it is also considered one of the most exceptional musical interpretations of Shakespeare. Its most notorious use has, perhaps, been as the theme tune to The Apprentice.
Tickets cost £25/£20/£15 (reserved) or £8.50 (unreserved). Concessions are £15 in £20 seats. They are available from Ely Cathedral Box Office, tel 01353 660349, email box.office@elycathedral.org or online from www.elycathedral.org
