Concert Programme:
Antonín Dvořák: Slavonic Dances No. 1 in D major, Op.46
Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op.33 (Cello: Jake Lewis)
Interval
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op.88
City of Newport Symphony Orchestra
For the last 100 years, City of Newport Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) has proudly served Newport and the surrounding areas with concerts and events. CNSO began life as part of the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Movement. The name changed to Newport Concert Orchestra around 1960, Newport Orchestra in 2012 and City of Newport Symphony Orchestra in 2019. The orchestra is still playing strong, with new members joining regularly, performing around 4 concerts per season and running two annual Young Musician Competitions for the Gwent area.
Since being joined by Musical Director, Anna Beresford, in January 2023, the orchestra have continued to rehearse on Monday evenings in St John Baptist Church, Oakfield Road and put on successful concerts across Newport. In September 2023, the group welcomed a new Orchestral Leader to the orchestra in professional violinist, Jane Sinclair. In December 2023 they collaborated with The National Music Service of Wales SE Regional Choir in a sell-out concert in St Woolos Cathedral. In June 2024 CNSO performed a programme of film music at the landmark Riverfront Theatre in Newport, joined by students from Gwent Music to play with us in a ‘side-by-side’ project.
In 2021, CNSO announced the launch of a new music initiative for young musicians in Gwent. The orchestra is dedicated to supporting young musicians in the area and providing performance opportunities such as the competition is important to our mission. The winner of the Gwent Young Musician Competition 2024 was awarded to Erin Morgan (violin) and the winner of the Gwent Concerto Competition 2024 was announced as Jake Lewis (cello). Jake will be invited to perform today with the CNSO and Erin will join us on 14th December. Keep an eye on our social media and website for entry details for the 2025 competitions at the end of this year!
Just this year, CNSO launched Friends of CNSO, an membership scheme giving the opportunity to connect further with our orchestra. There are two levels to membership, which offer exclusive access to rehearsals and events, and support the activities of the orchestra.
Antonín Dvořák: Slavonic Dances No. 1 in D major, Op.46
Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op.33 (Cello: Jake Lewis)
Interval
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op.88
City of Newport Symphony Orchestra
For the last 100 years, City of Newport Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) has proudly served Newport and the surrounding areas with concerts and events. CNSO began life as part of the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Movement. The name changed to Newport Concert Orchestra around 1960, Newport Orchestra in 2012 and City of Newport Symphony Orchestra in 2019. The orchestra is still playing strong, with new members joining regularly, performing around 4 concerts per season and running two annual Young Musician Competitions for the Gwent area.
Since being joined by Musical Director, Anna Beresford, in January 2023, the orchestra have continued to rehearse on Monday evenings in St John Baptist Church, Oakfield Road and put on successful concerts across Newport. In September 2023, the group welcomed a new Orchestral Leader to the orchestra in professional violinist, Jane Sinclair. In December 2023 they collaborated with The National Music Service of Wales SE Regional Choir in a sell-out concert in St Woolos Cathedral. In June 2024 CNSO performed a programme of film music at the landmark Riverfront Theatre in Newport, joined by students from Gwent Music to play with us in a ‘side-by-side’ project.
In 2021, CNSO announced the launch of a new music initiative for young musicians in Gwent. The orchestra is dedicated to supporting young musicians in the area and providing performance opportunities such as the competition is important to our mission. The winner of the Gwent Young Musician Competition 2024 was awarded to Erin Morgan (violin) and the winner of the Gwent Concerto Competition 2024 was announced as Jake Lewis (cello). Jake will be invited to perform today with the CNSO and Erin will join us on 14th December. Keep an eye on our social media and website for entry details for the 2025 competitions at the end of this year!
Just this year, CNSO launched Friends of CNSO, an membership scheme giving the opportunity to connect further with our orchestra. There are two levels to membership, which offer exclusive access to rehearsals and events, and support the activities of the orchestra.
Musical Director: Anna Beresford
Anna has a varied career as a freelance musician. She is the Musical Director of Caerphilly Community Chorus and the City of Newport Symphony Orchestra. She is the Assistant Music Librarian at Welsh National Opera and sings with the BBC National Chorus of Wales, as well as teaching cello, violin, piano and voice. Recent highlights include working as Assistant Choir Director to the Royal Northern College of Music Chamber Choir in a BBC Proms performance, tutoring with National Youth Arts Wales’ Côr Skills programme and making her conducting debut with the Northern Ballet Sinfonia on their tour of The Little Mermaid in 2022. |
Leader: Jane Sinclair
Jane started playing the violin 57 years ago! She studied at the Royal College of Music in London for three years, followed by a hiatus. When she resumed, Jane spent a year leading amateur orchestras before joining the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Manchester where she worked for five years. From there Jane joined Opera North as their Principal 2nd Violin. Later Jane joined the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) as the Assistant Principal 2nd Violin. She spent a very happy 31 years there and left almost three years ago to experience life as a freelance violinist. Jane created her own business two years ago as an EFT practitioner and has clients all around the globe thanks to Zoom. It is a therapy that she used to set herself free from performance anxiety and she has helped many people with all sorts of traumas. This will be Jane’s last concert with the CNSO. The CNSO is grateful for all of her support and fantastic leadership, and wish her well on her next adventure as Jane relocates. |
Cello: Jake Lewis
Jake Lewis, 18, began learning to play the cello at age five, having been handed a larger instrument as he was taller than his classmates. Luckily, the instrument was a hit and Jake has been playing ever since. He has been a member of CNSO since he won the Gwent Young Musician Competition in 2022, is a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and several other ensembles. Currently finishing his A-Level studies, he hopes to pursue performing at conservatoire level and into his career, with a particular interest in orchestral playing. Jake says, 'I loved taking part in this year's competition - having the opportunity to perform a piece like the Saint-Saens concerto with the orchestra will be something I will never forget. I am grateful to many people who have helped me to get where I am today; my teacher Nathan Stone, and CNSO for giving me the opportunity to perform as a soloist in both their Young Musician Competition and Concerto Competition'. |
City of Newport Symphony Orchestra:
Violin 1 Leader – Jane Sinclair Chloe Menzies Deborah Cooper Lindsay Savine Nadine Hazen Sarah Norton Steven Rodman Billy Donaghy Violin 2 Debbie Frost Julie Bellamy Eithne Deignan Eleanor Chiu Eve Bellamy Hannah Miller Joy Irvine Samantha Elson Viola Clare Bailey Juliet Grayson Gareth Allman Meryl Jones Louise Maunder Cello Jake Lewis Andrew Muggleton David Rose Andy Summers Melanie Davies Lily McAllister-Sutton Albert Yung Double Bass Megan Burridge Mary Williamson |
Flute
Wendy Wade Erin McGill Lynne Fulcher Oboe Philip White Catherine Webb Clarinet Roberta Veryard Angharad Derr Bassoon Holly Wright Mollie Bristow French Horn Martyn Ford Rick Ward Tim Holliday Sarah Page Trumpet Connor Edwards David Jones Rebekah Middleton Graham Middleton Trombone Philip Ellwood Dave Rose Dave Short Tuba Elizabeth Forester Percussion Dennis Gardener Katherine Evans Elizabeth Forester |
Programme Notes
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Slavonic Dances No. 1 in C major, Op.46 Dvořák wrote two sets of Slavonic Dances, reflecting the spirit and rhythmical verve of Slavonic folk music. The Dance No. 1 in C major which will open the concert this evening is from the first collection, started out as piano duets and were later orchestrated for the full symphonic orchestra. A grand C major chord opens the dance, followed by a repeated, driving theme and it soon becomes clear that this is a playful and vibrant dance. The meter is disguised and deceives the ear between hearing duple or triple time, and added to the quick modulations and contrasting sections, this invitation to the dance is a joyful whirlwind. |
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921): Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op.33
Cello: Jake Lewis This concerto, the first of two written for the 'cello by Saint-Saëns, was composed in 1872 and first performed the following year at a concert in the Paris Conservatoire. The work is in one continuous movement and is a supreme example of compactness of form and skilful balance between soloist and orchestra. Every register of the 'cello is displayed throughout its entire compass with no difficulty whatsoever in penetrating the orchestral texture. The first section follows the usual pattern of first movement form and the principal theme, a vigorous melody in cross rhythms, is announced immediately by the solo 'cello. After some elaboration, the second subject, a quiet lyrical melody, is heard on the solo 'cello against a quiet string accompaniment. A faster orchestral tutti leads the way to the development section and after some recapitulation of the two main themes, an unaccompanied 'cello passage closes the first movement. The second movement is a charming scherzo-like section, which opens with a quiet staccato tune played by muted strings. The solo 'cello enters with a sustained ruminative melody which is woven around the main tune and which develops into a short unaccompanied cadenza before carrying on in the same mood to close the movement. The last movement is heralded by the reappearance of the principal theme (heard first at the very beginning of the work) which gives way to a new melancholy tune which is then elaborated and developed. A calm episode played on the lower strings of the 'cello is then heard and this in turn leads to more recapitulation of the principal theme of the first movement, which ushers in a fast coda bringing the work to a brilliant finish. "And so," says Tovey, "they all lived happily ever after." Notes from Making Music, John McLeod |
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op.88
Allegro con brio Adagio Allegretto grazioso Allegro ma non troppo Outside his Czech homeland, where he became a revered national figure, Dvořák's most important and loyal international audience was in England. He had a long and fruitful relationship with English performers, especially with the large-scale choral festivals which were hugely popular in mid-Victorian England. There was no commission for this symphony. Dvořák appears to have written it for the sheer pleasure of writing and it is quite different from its predecessor, being the most relaxed and exuberant of the symphonies, though this did not mean that it was easy for Dvořák to write. He took ten attempts to fashion the theme of the finale to his complete satisfaction. The symphony opens with a slow introduction on 'cellos, full of yearning and nostalgia; the woodwind introduce a dance and then the music sweeps away carried along by a dotted dance rhythm. This permeates the movements in a variety of guises. Urgent trumpet calls cap the central recapitulation and the coda is emphatic and decisive. The Adagio opens with a solemn introduction, suggesting the deep tranquillity of a sun-dappled woodland glade. This is then then overtaken by a more flowing idea, which builds to a shining peak, capped by trumpet figures and vanishes, leaving the opening idea still at peace. The basses and 'cellos introduce a darker mood, which surges forward over an urgent tread, but is replaced by much fresher gentler music; a second climax sweeps up and evaporates and the music closes in the peace with which it opened. The third movement is neither a true Scherzo, as in the Seventh Symphony, nor a Czech furiant as in the Sixth, but a waltz, sadly merry, even elegiac. The Trio is based on a song from Dvořák's comic opera Tvade palice (The Stubborn Lovers). |
After the repeat of the waltz, Dvořák introduces a coda in duple time which swirls away in the manner of his earlier Slavonic Dances.
The trumpet fanfares which open the Finale are not a call to battle, but here to the dance. The 'cellos and basses present a theme which is given a series of free variations, wildly exuberant at first. The second of these is capped with resonant horns, gradually becoming more wistful until the whooping horns herald the stamping music of the coda and the trumpet fanfares drive home the final chords. Notes from Making Music, Dominic Nudd |
Thanks
With thanks to our Friends of CNSO:
Annette Fillery-Travis and Bruce Perkins
Mike Burgess
We would like to thank the following for their support:
Gwent Music
Canon Colin Westbrook
Print and Embroidery Limited
CNSO volunteers and committee
We hope you will join us at our next concert, here at St John Baptist Church on 14th December. This will be an afternoon concert at 3pm with the theme of Storytelling, celebrating the music that helps bring tales to life.
Find us on Social Media! We’re on Facebook and Instagram as @newportsymphony
Check out our website at www.cnso.org.uk
With thanks to our Friends of CNSO:
Annette Fillery-Travis and Bruce Perkins
Mike Burgess
We would like to thank the following for their support:
Gwent Music
Canon Colin Westbrook
Print and Embroidery Limited
CNSO volunteers and committee
We hope you will join us at our next concert, here at St John Baptist Church on 14th December. This will be an afternoon concert at 3pm with the theme of Storytelling, celebrating the music that helps bring tales to life.
Find us on Social Media! We’re on Facebook and Instagram as @newportsymphony
Check out our website at www.cnso.org.uk