21 May 2003
BRAHMS BOWES AND BEAUTIFUL
INSTRUMENTS
On Friday 6 June there
will be a unique opportunity to enjoy a fascinating pre concert talk with a
difference.
Curator of Oxfordıs
famous Bates Collection, Dr Helen LaRue, will join soloists Raphael Wallfisch
and Thomas Bowes to discuss the Brahms Double Concerto as well as the valuable
instruments they will be playing.
World-renowned cellist Raphael Wallfisch will play on a Peter Guarnerius of Mantua cello dating from 1727 and
Thomas Bowes a Nicolaus Amatus Cremonen. Hieronymi. Fil. ac Antonij Nepos Fecit
1659. A total of over 600 years.
This is a
wonderful opportunity to see these magnificent instruments at close quarters
and find out just what does makes them so special. The soloists will also discuss Brahmsı mighty Double
Concerto which, following the talk, they will perform with the Oxford
Philomusica orchestra under the direction of Marios Papadopoulos.
The talk is
free and takes place in The Sheldonian Theatre 6:45-7:15 with the concert at
8pm.
Concerto for Violin and Cello in A
minor
Symphony No 2
Thomas Bowes
violin
Raphael Wallfisch cello
Marios Papadopoulos conductor
Tickets £30, £24, £17, £10 plus
concessions
Booking available online at: www.oxfordphil.com, Box Office: 01865 305305
For further information, pictures and interview opportunities, please contact Carole Radford: 01753 771849; 07770 543616, Carole@caroleradfordpr.com
The Oxford Philomusica was founded in 1998
and has since developed to become the most significant musical resource in
Oxford. It was launched with a
concert at Londonıs Barbican Centre in November 1998 and gave its Oxford debut
the following February at The Sheldonian Theatre. A television documentary, produced by the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, highlighted the Oxford Philomusicaıs mission to establish
a professional symphony orchestra in the University City and was broadcast to
an audience of over 400 million people world-wide. As recognition of its work, the Oxford Philomusica was
honoured at a reception at 10 Downing Street in April 2002, hosted by Cherie
Blair.
In February 2001, Vladimir
Ashkenazy, Patron of the Oxford Philomusica, appeared with the orchestra as
soloist and conductor at Oxfordıs Apollo Theatre. Internationally acclaimed soloists who have appeared with
the orchestra include Steven Isserlis, Angela Hewitt, Cristina Ortiz, Oxana
Yablonskaya, Maurice Hasson, Jean-Bernard Pommier, Igor Oistrakh, Charles Rose
and John Lill. The Oxford
Philomusicaıs diverse range of promotions and other activities have made a
considerable contribution to Oxfordıs musical life, attracting critical praise
and securing a supportive audience for its work.
Education and community work, a central part of the orchestraıs mission, continues to grow. Oxford Philomusica has funded pilot projects in the Wood Farm area of Oxford and at the Oxford Hospital School. The success of these schemes, together with close collaboration with hospital boards, has led to a proposal for Oxford Philomusica to become the resident orchestra at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Beyond Oxford, the orchestra has extended its touring programme to undertake visits to Switzerland, Cyprus and Azerbaijan. In March 2000, the Oxford Philomusica performed before a capacity audience at the prestigious Sale Gaveau, Paris, and has recently appeared to high critical acclaim at the Athens Megaron. Its commitment to performing in London continued with a concert given at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in February 2000 with further concerts planned.
Marios Papadopoulos, Founder and Music Director of the Oxford Philomusica,
made his London debut in 1974, since when his career as pianist and conductor
has developed on the international stage. His interpretations of the Beethoven
Sonatas, currently being recorded, have compared with those of Schnabel,
Brendel, Barenboim and Kempff (Daily Telegraph and Classic FM Magazine Criticsı Choice).
In August 1999, the Oxford Philomusica presented the first International Piano Festival to be held in Oxford, in collaboration with the European Piano Teachers Association. Described as "the most significant annual musical event in the city" (Oxford Times), the Oxford Philomusica International Piano Festival now enjoys an international reputation as a centre of learning for the musicians of tomorrow. The festival attracts a world class line up of visiting artists of the highest calibre and widest possible breadth of musical experience and the 2003 International Piano Festival intends to build on its enviable record by offering an embarrassment of riches from the piano world.
2002 saw welcome returns by such esteemed artists as
Cristina Ortiz, Niel Immelman, Bryce Morrison, Maria Curcio, Marios
Papadopoulos, Malcolm Troup and Malcolm Young. Distinguished new participators included
John Lill, Christopher Elton, Jack Gibbons, Martino Tirimo and Charles Rosen.
Demand for residential places exceeded previous years with students
travelling from around the world in order to be part of this unique musical
experience. This year the festival
runs from 3-10 August 2003.
In October 2002, Oxford
Philomusica was appointed as Orchestra in Residence to the University of
Oxford. The appointment is for an initial five-year period. As part of the University Residency,
the orchestra will continue to collaborate with the Faculty of Music on student
education programmes. The highly successful Orchestral Apprenticeship Scheme,
now in its fourth year, will once again provide orchestral experience to
selected students. Philomusica
musicians will also offer training to individual students enrolled on the
Faculty's Orchestral Studies Course. As part of its residency, Oxford
Philomusica will offer, amongst other programmes, a series of masterclasses for
students, conducting classes, provide coaching to students playing in the
Universityıs Orchestras, appoint a composer-in-residence from the Faculty of
Music, work closely with the Faculty of Music to establish major conferences
and colloquia. In addition, the Orchestra hopes to develop a number of
pioneering schemes with other University departments using its resources of
professional performing musicians to explore non-musical areas of work and
research such as medical and neurological research, the psychology of music and
performance and the effects of music on a childıs ability to learn.
Now recognized as one of the
UKıs leading violinists, Thomasıs career path has not been a conventional
one. Since leaving Trinity College
of Music and the masterclass of Bela Katona he has been a member of the London
Philharmonic and the Academy of Saint Martins, was the founding leader of the
Maggini String Quartet and leader of the London Mozart Players. He has guest lead many of the countryıs
finest orchestras: the LSO, RPO, AAM,
London Sinfonietta and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra - working closely
with the late Sir Georg Solti, Sir Colin Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Joseph
Swensen and Kent Nagano. With his
wife, the composer Eleanor Alberga, Thomas formed the duo Double Exposure, travelling
extensively, performing and recording a wide range of music to great critical
acclaim.
But it is as a solo artist
that he is now gaining wide recognition and upon which role he now devotes all
his time and energies. Thoması New
York recital debut at Carnegie, extensively and tellingly reviewed by Paul
Griffiths in the New York Times, finally marked his emergence as an artist of
great originality and maturity.
Recent concert highlights
include a performance of Szymanowskiıs 2nd Violin Concerto with
Takuo Yuasa and the Ulster Orchestra, followed by a specially commissioned
recording of this work for the BBC 1998 Proms season. In 1999 Thomas made his debut with the BBC National
Orchestra of Wales, giving the world premiere of John Metcalfıs violin concerto
³Paradise Haunts.². The 99/2000
season saw performances of Mozart and Tchaikovsky concertos with the Moscow
Chamber Orchestra during its tours of The USA and again with them at New Yorkıs
Town Hall. Early in 2001 he
gave 2 performances of the Elgar Violin Concerto in San Francisco and Montana,
leaving critics struggling for superlatives and audiences ³..in rapt silence² ³. 900 listeners leapt to their
feet in show of admiration..²
Highlights in 2002 included
performances of the Britten, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Bruch concertos.
Thomas worked closely with
his wife, the composer Eleanor Alberga on her composition of a Violin Concerto,
which had been commissioned by Joseph Swensen and The Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The premiere in December 2001 at the
Queenıs Hall, Edinburgh, ³was given a breathtaking performance by soloist
Thomas Bowes a stunning virtuoso²
(The Herald). The Times
reported that ³Bowes clearly had a feeling for the music.that lyricism was
discernible throughout², while The
Scotsman described Thomas as ³the incredible violinist².
Their lectures on this collaboration are proving extremely popular and
give unique insight into the creation and development of a major composition:
amusing anecdotes on a more personal level as husband and wife - also delight
audiences.
Thomas Bowes is deeply
committed to music as a living, developing art, and feels that commissioning
and playing new music is vital not only to the growth of present day composers,
but also artists and audience. He
is constantly seeking new works to perform and avenues to explore the creation
of fresh commissions.
Thomas plays a grand
patternı Nicolo Amati of 1659.
Web site: www.ThomasBowes.com