Royal College of Music: Songs and Scores from Russia

Visiting Professor of Conducting Martyn Brabbins conducts his second concert of the season. The full sound of the RCM Symphony Orchestra combines with the RCM Chorus for a rousing evening of symphony and song from three of Russia’s greatest composers. Stravinsky’s 30-minute ballet score opens the programme and immediately impresses with its skilful handling of dynamics and delicate harp melodies. Mussorgsky’s darkly brilliant song cycle follows, arranged for bass voice and orchestra by Kalevi Aho.

Concluding the evening is Prokofiev’s epic score to Sergei Eisenstein’s 1938 war film, Alexander Nevsky. Prokofiev’s masterly manipulation of instrumentation and timbre vividly depicts the movie’s most memorable scenes, from the monumental battle between the Teutonic Knights and the Russian troops to the deeply moving funeral tribute to the fallen.

Programme

Stravinsky Orpheus
Mussorgsky Songs of Dances and Death (orch Kalevi Aho)
Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky

Performers

Martyn Brabbins conductor
Timothy Edlin bass-baritone
Emma Roberts mezzo-soprano
RCM Symphony Orchestra
RCM Chorus
Mark Biggins chorus director