Rafael Payare conductor
Magdalene Ho piano
RCM Symphony Orchestra
Carlos Simon Fate Now Conquers
Beethoven Piano Concerto no 1 in C major op 15
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique
'Irresistible zest, controlled impetuosity, dreamy sensibility and a nostalgic expression' 鈥� Berlioz on performing his own music
Rafael Payare is at the helm for what is sure to be a spellbinding RCM Symphony Orchestra concert, featuring Berlioz鈥� dramatic and passionate Symphonie fantastique as well as Carlos Simon's piece inspired by an entry in Beethoven鈥檚 journal, 'Fate Now Conquers', and Beethoven's First Piano Concerto performed by Magdalene Ho.
Berlioz was a Romantic through and through, and the young man at the heart of the Symphonie fantastique鈥檚 story might have been the composer himself, his obsessive nature represented by a recurring motif or 鈥榠de茅 fixe鈥�. In the opening 鈥楻everies, Passions鈥�, Berlioz conjures up what he called 鈥榲olcanic love鈥�, followed by a waltzing ball scene and pastoral interlude. Then come the sinister 鈥楳arch to the Scaffold鈥� and nightmarish 鈥楧ream of a Witches鈥� Sabbath鈥�, reflecting what Berlioz described as the key elements of his style: 鈥榩assionate expression, inner warmth, rhythmic impetus and unexpectedness鈥�.
Hear a pre-concert performance of rarely heard French repertoire including music by Berlioz on the College鈥檚 majestic Flentrop Orgelbouw organ; free for concert ticket holders.
