Sutton symphony orchestra unveils its winter programme of Russian favourites.
Sutton Symphony Orchestra is back at St Andrew’s URC Northey Avenue on Saturday 23rd November for its winter concert featuring works by composers who witnessed the transition from Tsarist Russia to Soviet state.
First up is Gazunov’s Seasons. Glazunov composed his ballet suite for orchestra that represents the cyclic changing of the year around 1900. Lucky for us Glazunov was Russian and thus experienced 4 distinct seasons rather than a UK-style perpetual greyness.
Next up is Shostakovich’s 2nd piano concerto with a welcome return for John Paul Ekins as soloist. Shostakovich is often known for his defiant and brutalist works that reflect his life in 1930’s Russia but this is totally in contrast – very light-hearted, playful and free flowing.
Last up – Stravinsky’s mighty and masterful Firebird Suite. Like Glazunov’s Seasons this was originally written as a ballet but is now a staple of orchestral repertoire. That said, there’s nothing average or routine about it. It’s a true showpiece of orchestration that tells the story of the Firebird in Russian folklore using innovative orchestral effects and brilliant scoring. It’s raw, lavish, sumptuous and chaotic all in one.
