Opening with the overture to Wagner鈥檚 The Flying Dutchman, the work he claimed lifted him from a 鈥渕ere concoctor of opera-texts鈥� to a true poet, we then discover Strauss鈥檚 range in a curation of his orchestral songs with soprano Francesca Chiejina, from the exuberant motherly joy of 鈥楳uttert盲ndelei鈥� (Mother-talk) to the nervous contemplation of 鈥楻uhe, meine Seele!鈥� (Rest, my soul!). But even without words, we see Strauss鈥檚 impeccable knack for storytelling in the symphonic fantasy Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman without a Shadow), a fantastical tale of motherhood and humanity. Contrasting with the narrative-driven works of these two great dramatists is Mozart鈥檚 ferociously fun Thirty-Fifth Symphony.
Pre-concert entertainment
6.30pm In Stalls Caf茅 Bar
Ahead of the concert, Royal Northern College of Music students Holly-Alice Morton (harp), and Anusha Bobby (soprano) will be performing in the Stalls Caf茅 Bar.
Pre-concert programme
Schubert: Heidenr枚slein
Schubert: Gretchen am Spinnrade
Faur茅: Apr茅s un r锚ve
Faur茅: Les Berceaux
Paradies (arr. Magistretti): Toccata
Strauss: Breit鈥� 眉ber mein Haupt
Strauss: Morgen!
Strauss: Die Nacht
Hahn: A Chloris
Hahn: L鈥檋eure exquise
Ravel (arr. Kondonassis): Pavane Pour Une Infante D茅funte
Ravel: Cinq melodies populaires Grecques
Indian Soprano, Anusha Merrin Bobby, is a native of Kerala and a resident of the Kingdom of Bahrain. She is currently a GREAT Indian Scholar at the Royal Northern College of Music, pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma: Advanced Studies in Vocal Studies and Opera under the tutelage of Elizabeth Ritchie. Anusha also holds a BA (Hons) in Music from Middlesex University, London and a Diploma in Music Performance from KM Music Conservatory, Chennai.
Throughout her studies, Anusha further honed her craft by participating in masterclasses with great artists and renowned tutors like David Owen Norris, Jennifer Hamilton, Benjamin Appl, Patricia Rozario and Mark Troop. Some achievements include: Finalist of the Dean and Chadlington Festival 2023, Frederic Cox Award for singing 2023, , Best Overall Performer in Art Song Festival 2021 with Trinity Laban and KM Music Conservatory andFinalist in 2018 Voices of India National Singing Competition. Her opera roles include Mary Crawford in Dove's Mansfield Park, Geraldine in Barber's A Hand of Bridge and Ida in J.Strauss鈥� Die Fledermaus.
Holly-Alice has been playing the harp since she was 10. Growing up in rural Northamptonshire, she was taught by Soraya Vermeulen and attended the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust.. She started studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2020 where she has been taught by Eira Lynn Jones and Dr Anne-Marie O鈥橣arrell. Some memorable highlights of her first three years at College include: playing with the RNCM Session Orchestra; performing Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 Mass at the Bridgewater Hall as part of the RNCM 50th celebrations; and performing with the RNCM Harp Ensemble at the World Harp Congress in Cardiff.
Her solo and orchestral performances span prestigious venues such as Peterborough Cathedral, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Derngate Theatre, Barton Hall Orangery, Slovak Radio Building, Manchester Whitworth Art Gallery, and the Royal Albert Hall.
Holly-Alice and Anusha appear by kind permission of the RNCM.