’Exemplary playing, tight orchestral discipline and a choir on

excellent form provided a splendid opening’

’From the tremendous climax to the final pianissimo, this was

orchestral playing of a very high standard’

’Alleluias rang out triumphantly at the end of this performance

... the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus showed skill

and stamina’ Eastern Daily Press

2013 is a special year for lovers of the music of Benjamin Britten,and the Phil is honoured to present a performance of the War Requiem in the centenary month of his birth. Britten’semotional response to the horrors of the Second World Wardrew out of him some of his most impassioned and lyrical music,but the vast forces required for a live performance make it a raretreat. The regular musicians of the Phil will be joined by membersof the Academy of St Thomas, UEA Choir and the NorwichCathedral Choristers, along with a hand-picked trio of topinternational soloists, for a spine-tingling performance of one ofthe great masterpieces of the 20th century.

Zoe Beyers takes time out from her job as associate leader of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to play Sibelius’shimmering Violin Concerto, in a concert that also includesBrahms’ majestic First Symphony and a rarely heard early overtureby Elgar. The chorus take the spotlight for the Phil’s ever-popularChristmas extravaganza, and the orchestra are back again inFebruary with a romantic all-Russian programme linked by thestory of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s tale returns in theseason’s final concert, with music from Bernstein’s modern takeon Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, forming part of aflamboyant American Night and a tribute to the giants of theGreat American Songbook.

Why not treat yourself to a whole season of memorablemusic-making with our generous ‘4 for the price of 3’ seasonticket – ensuring your favourite seat AND saving you money!Students can snap up a concert ticket for just £6. Our Friendsand Benefactors also benefit from ticket discounts, prioritybooking and other privileges.

www.norwichphil.org.uk • www.norwichphil.ticketsource.co.uk

SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2013 7.30pm

BRITTEN War RequiemGeraldine McGreevy soprano

Andrew Mackenzie-Wicks tenorRoderick Earle baritone

Norwich Philharmonic OrchestraAcademy of St Thomas

Norwich Philharmonic ChorusNorwich Cathedral Choristers

Matthew Andrews, David Dunnett conductors

The Phil’s final contribution to the Britten centenary celebrations is a star-studded performance of one of the undisputed choral

masterpieces of the 20th century. The War Requiem, composed forthe consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962, juxtaposesthe traditional Latin Mass with settings of poems by Wilfred Owen.

Britten, a committed and outspoken pacifist, selected the textspersonally. The quotation on the title page sums up the work’s

profound message: ‘My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity … All a poet can do today is warn.”

BOX OFFICE www.preluderecords.co.uk • 01603 628319

SIBELIUS Violin ConcertoBRAHMS Symphony No.1

ELGAR Froissart Overture

Zoe Beyers violinNorwich Philharmonic Orchestra

Matthew Andrews conductor

Brahms claimed that his First Symphony, with its famous horn themeinspired by a traditional Alpine shepherd song, took 21 years to write

from preliminary sketches to first performance. It is certainly a work of monumental proportions in which Brahms pays homage

to the legacy of Beethoven while also establishing his own uniquevoice. CBSO associate leader Zoe Beyers will shine in the virtuoso

cadenzas of Sibelius’ exhilarating Violin Concerto, while the eveningfizzes into life with Elgar’s first large-scale work for full orchestra,

written for the 1890 Three Choirs Festival.

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 2013 7.30pm

BOX OFFICE www.preluderecords.co.uk • 01603 628319 www.norwichphil.org.uk • www.norwichphil.ticketsource.co.uk

NORWICH PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY Reg. Charity No. 264425Designed and produced by Media Associates 01603 616005 • Printed by BarnwellsAll details correct at time of going to press. The society reserves the right to changeany programme or performer without notice.

Become a Friend or a BenefactorTo make sure of your favourite seat for any or all of our concerts, why not considerbecoming a Friend or Benefactor? Benefits include priority booking, discount ticketprices and free concert programmes. For more information please contact the Hon. Friends Secretary, Kate Anetts – email: Kate.Anetts@tesco.netPriority booking for Friends and Benefactors (plus members of the chorus andorchestra) opens Monday 22 July. Previous season ticket-holders’ seats will be held until Saturday 7 September. Public booking opens Monday 5 August.

Group discount10% discount available on 10 or more tickets.

Join our email mailing listIf you would like to receive regular email updates, please register your contactdetails at www.norwichphil.org.uk/mailinglist

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2013 7.30pm

The Phil’s

FAMILY CHRISTMAS

SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2013 BRITTEN War Requiem

Geraldine McGreevy sopranoAndrew Mackenzie-Wicks tenor • Roderick Earle baritoneAcademy of St Thomas • Norwich Cathedral Choristers

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 2013 SIBELIUS Violin Concerto • Zoe Beyers violin

BRAHMS Symphony No.1

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2013 The Phil’s Family Christmas

SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2014 PROKOFIEV Romeo and Juliet Suite

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.6

SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2014 AMERICAN NIGHT

music by Gershwin, Barber, Bernstein, Copland and Rodgers & Hammerstein

BOOKINGS Prelude Records 01603 628319 www.preluderecords.co.ukwww.norwichphil.ticketsource.co.uk

The Phil’s 100-strong chorus is joined by award-winning Norfolk Brass for a sparkling selection

of old favourites, new arrangements, sing-alongcarols and a few surprises. Book now for oneof the hottest dates on the festive calendar!

NorwichPhilharmonicChorus

David Dunnettconductor

with special guests

Norfolk Brass

Phil SEASONHIGHLIGHTS2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4CONCERTS IN

ST ANDREW’S HALL

NORWICHN O R W I C H P H I L H A R M O N I C

ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS

N O R W I C H

FamiliarFields

LOCATION £ NO. OF TICKETS COST

9/11 7/12 8/2 22/3

West Gallery £16

West Gallery Friend £15

Stalls £14

Stalls Friend £13

Numbered Side Aisles £9

Numbered Side Aisles Friend £8

Students £6

Subtotal £

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 17/12

West Gallery £13

Stalls £11

Numbered Side Aisles £7

Students £6

Subtotal £

SEASON TICKET (EXCL 17/12) 4 CONCERTS FOR PRICE OF 3

West Gallery £48

West Gallery Friend £45

Stalls £42

Stalls Friend £39

Numbered Side Aisles £27

Numbered Side Aisles Friend £24

Subtotal £

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PROKOFIEV Romeo andJuliet Suite No.2TCHAIKOVSKY

Symphony No.6LIADOV Kikimora

Norwich Philharmonic OrchestraMatthew Andrews conductor

This powerful all-Russian programme showcases the PhilharmonicOrchestra at maximum strength. The second suite from Prokofiev’sromantic ballet score, which includes the famous Montagues andCapulets theme and Romeo’s heartbreaking parting from Juliet, is

paired with Tchaikovsky’s emotional Pathétique Symphony, which heconducted just nine days before his death. Tchaikovsky, who washimself suffering from a broken heart, identified its characteristic

four-note cross-motif with the ‘star-cross’d lovers’.

SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2014 7.30pm

SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2014 7.30pm

AMERICAN NIGHTGERSHWIN Cuban Overture BARBER Adagio for Strings

BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances fromWest Side Story

COPLAND Fanfare for the Common ManGERSHWIN music from Porgy and Bessplus choruses from Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals

Norwich Philharmonic OrchestraNorwich Philharmonic Chorus

Matthew Andrews, David Dunnett conductors

Broadway meets Hollywood by way of the Deep South as the Phil dusts off the Stars & Stripes and goes Stateside

for a spectacular all-American season finale.

BOX OFFICE www.preluderecords.co.uk • 01603 628319 www.norwichphil.org.uk

PhilN O R W I C H

N O R W I C H P H I L H A R M O N I C

ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS AT ST ANDREW’S HALL NORWICH

SEASON 2013-2014

FOUR

exciting

concerts

for the

price of

THREE

An illustrious past ... an exciting future

Norwich Philharmonic Society is one of the city’s mostexperienced concert promoters, with a history stretching backto 1841. First the orchestra and then, from 1930, the chorus havebrought together the cream of local musicians and singers toperform large-scale symphonies, oratorios, choral works andconcertos. In turn, they have collaborated with internationallyacclaimed soloists, guest conductors and young professionalsat the start of their careers. Programmes have unearthed raritiesand introduced new works as well as reinterpreting the coreClassical and Romantic repertoire that is the mainstay of allgreat British choral societies.

St Andrew’s Hall, the city’s main concert hall and regular homeof the Phil, has welcomed many world-famous musicians andconductors. Today’s performers share the stage with the ghostsof Sir Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir MalcolmSargent and Sir Thomas Beecham, Myra Hess and Fritz Kreisler,Peter Pears and Owen Brannigan – not forgetting BenjaminBritten, whose centenary we are celebrating in 2013. Inspired by its heritage, the Phil is working hard to ensure that futuregenerations can look back with pride at today’s achievements.Concerts regularly attract full houses and a wide cross-sectionof audiences, the annual Christmas concert is a real familyaffair, and students can pick up reduced seats at all events.

The Philharmonic Chorus has a well-established base ofexperienced singers, but is always on the lookout for newmembers. If you’ve sung in a choir before, this is a goodopportunity to expand your repertoire and work with newcolleagues. Many people moving to the city find that it’s also a great way to meet friends and make contacts, while thosewith limited experience of performing live will find theirconfidence boosted and their technique strengthened.

Membership of the chorus is by a short, informal audition,and limited vacancies are usually available in all voices. Even ifyou’re new to choral singing, we’re good at spotting potential,so don’t be afraid to talk things through with the chorussecretary first. You will need to be enthusiastic, committed andavailable to rehearse on Tuesday evenings from Septemberthrough to March. See website for how to arrange an audition.

www.norwichphil.org.uk • www.norwichphil.ticketsource.co.ukSEASON SPONSORS

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