About this Event
A concert for Remembrance Day, talking not of the tragedies that came of war, but remembering some beautiful works of art - created by people deeply affected by it, yet gave us such hopeful pieces of music, in a way, telling us, to not lose hope. To not give up even after such hard times.
At the heart of it is Vaughan Williams beautiful Fifth Symphony. Like a heartfelt prayer of peace premiered at the Proms in 1943, in the midst of the horrific times of the Second World War. Written by a Vaughan Williams who saw the horrors of the first war close up while serving in the army, driving an ambulance in the war torn fields.
Strauss’s Oboe Concerto - that most likely exists because an American soldier, John De Lancie asked Strauss after the US army invaded Strauss’ village at the end of the war, if he would ever write an oboe concerto. Strauss, who spent a lot of his time struggling, forcing himself to work for the Third Reich so he could protect his daughter in law and her family, who were Jewish and under threat of being taken away. It will be performed by our virtuoso principal oboist, Sasha Puller.
Korngold, who left his country during the war and vowed to not write more concert music until it was over. The composer’s return to Austria further diminished his hopes of returning to the stage. Performances were poorly attended, critics belittled his sweetly expressive music that stood worlds away from the modernism now favored. He left Austria believing his music would be forgotten forever. He was then commissioned to write two pieces by the American school orchestras association, out of which, Theme and Variations was marked as his final opus (op. 42). He did not give the other piece Straussiana an opus number as he believed a prophecy that he won’t live past his opus 42.
Event venue & nearby stays
St Peter's Church, Notting Hill, 92 Kensington Park Road, London, United Kingdom
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