Students from the St Mary's Music School, Edinburgh rehearsing for a concert at the Standard Life 2008
Programme for the Concert in March 2008
Copyright photographs taken by Andrew Murphy
All copying strictly forbidden in part or whole
The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
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The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
CREAM OF EDINBURGH’S YOUNG MUSICAL TALENT REVEAL THE MYSTERIES BEHIND DRAMATIC AND APOCALYPTIC MASTERPIECE
Five talented young musicians from Edinburgh will this weekend perform and explore the unusual and strange Mysteries of the Macabre by composer György Ligeti, in a free Sunday afternoon performance at Glasgow University Concert Hall.
The musicians will be taking part in a performance by NYOS Futures, the contemporary classical chamber orchestra of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. The players include; 23 year old violinist Elspeth Macleod, 22 year old Bassoon player Lawrence O'Donnell, 21 year old percussionist Philip Hague, 25 year old Pianist Simon Smith and the youngest of the five, 16 year old mandolin player Sean Shibe, who will all be performing alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet player Mark O’Keeffe and Celebrated Italian Soprano, Silvia Spinnato.
Mysteries of the Macabre is a brief and unbridled fragment of Ligeti’s avant-garde opera Le Grand Macabre, whose intricately sexual plot was based on the theme of eat, drink, and be merry because tomorrow we die. The original version of this unpredictable work features an incredible part for soprano, and is testament to the composer’s unique style and wit.
David Danzmayr, (Assistant Conductor, Royal Scottish National Orchestra) will conduct Scotland’s unique, contemporary youth chamber ensemble in a full performance of the piece, before exploring it with the audience in the hope of revealing some of the mysteries behind this enigmatic composition.
Ligeti's only opera is said to have been inspired by the paintings of Bosch and Brueghel, indeed it is set in the fictional country of Breughelland. The loosely structured story follows Nekrotzar, the obnoxious Prince of Hell and the ''Great Macabre'' of the title, as he emerges to announce the end of the world.
Having terrified everyone into submission with his elaborate prophesies of doom, Nekrotzar and his servants feast and carouse at the palace until midnight, when the predicted comet duly strikes. Somehow however everyone survives, and they turn on Nekrotzar until, defeated, he disappears and there is a happy ending of sorts.
Sunday's piece is an arrangement of Gepopo’s three arias from Act Two of Le Grand Macabre. Gepopo is Chief Spy in the court of the boy monarch Prince Go-go. Over the course of these increasingly manic extracts, Gepopo, speaking mostly in staccato code, tries in vain to warn the Prince of the approach of the evil Nekrotzar and his apocalyptic comet.
For this concert NYOS Futures will perform this version of the piece with Silvia Spinnato, before being joined by Trumpeter Mark O’Keeffe, in a performance of an alternative version of the piece, written by Elgar Howarth, which sees the voice part "played" by solo trumpet.
This concert promises to reveal two very different versions of this curious yet highly entertaining work, which listeners will be able to compare, reflecting upon the madcap genius of one of the most revered composers of the 20th century.
Experience something different with NYOS Futures.
LISTINGS INFO:
Conductor: David Danzmayr
Soloist: Mark O’Keeffe
Soprano: Silvia
Spinnato
Ligeti Mysteries of the Macabre
Sun 19 October 2008, 2.30pm
Glasgow University Concert Hall
Box office: 0141 332 8311 or tickets on the door
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NYOS Futures is the unique contemporary chamber ensemble of NYOS. It is drawn from senior NYOS and Camerata Scotland musicians and aims to introduce young musicians and new audiences to the fascinating world of late 20th and early 21st century classical music.
The interest in NYOS Futures from established music professionals has been encouraging and the ensemble is delighted to have worked with a variety of internationally renowned Conductors, Soloists and Orchestras.
Through NYOS Futures, NYOS hopes to encourage an interest in the musicians and music of today, and develop and engage future audiences for contemporary classical music.
“NYOS Futures are definitely up to something” Herald
“NYOS Futures features the absolute cream of Scotland’s young generation of musicians” Scotsman
NYOS Futures is a project of The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) that also runs The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Camerata Scotland, The National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland sponsored by Standard Life, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and NYOS Strings.
Flautist, Fiona Paterson wins NYOS Staffa Award
Talented young flautist Fiona Paterson was last night awarded the prestigious NYOS Staffa Award following a tough competition between three of the UK's most talented classical musicians. Fiona has been a player in both Camerata Scotland and NYOS Futures and her expressive performance and technical ability greatly impresssed the judges, Gavin Reid (BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra), Composer, Rory Boyle and Marjorie Rycroft, Head of Music at The University of Glasgow. Fiona was presented with a traditional Scottish Quaich and £3000 prize money, which she will be able to spend on developing her future career in music.
Sara Harrison
Marketing Co-ordinator
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland
13 Somerset
Place
Glasgow
G3 7JT
For more information on concerts click the link below:
The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
Students from the St Mary's Music School, Edinburgh rehearsing for a concert at the Standard Life 2008
Programme for the Concert in March 2008
Copyright photographs taken by Andrew Murphy
All copying strictly forbidden in part or whole
CD Release
A new Camerata Scotland CD has just
been released, including Haydn's Symphony No. 104 'London' and
Beethoven's Symphony No.8. The CD is available on www.nyos.co.uk or by contacting the NYOS office on Telephone: 0141 332
8311.
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e-mail: murphysedinburgh@btinternet.com
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Index
Click the link below for the page index
Arts and Exhibitions Cavalcades and Galas Charity Events
Christmas and Hogmanay City Life The Film Festival The Fringe
Politics National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Royal Visits City Views
Festivals of Sea Music and Musicians Life in the City Picture Galleries
Written works Video Spoken Files Slide Shows Back to Front page
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