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Marin Alsop conducts three of the most popular works in the orchestral repertoire in this space-themed concert for all the family.
John Williams is arguably the greatest film music composer of all time, with 26 Grammys and 5 Oscars in his bulging trophy cabinet. He wrote the unforgettable music for all nine Star Wars films. The Suite brings together many of the best bits, including the swashbuckling main theme and Darth Vader’s menacing ‘Imperial March’.
Next, brilliant guitarist Sean Shibe joins the Philharmonia for Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. This treasure of the classical guitar repertoire evokes the gardens of a Spanish royal palace. The composer himself described it as ‘full of melancholic emotion… In its melody the perfume of magnolias lingers, the singing of birds and the gushing of fountains.’
Holst’s The Planets was a major influence on John Williams’s Star Wars scores. From the violence of ‘Mars, the Bringer of War’ to the ethereal voices of ‘Neptune, the Mystic’ (via ‘Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity’, whose melody is more familiar to rugby fans as World in Union) Holst gives us a masterclass in how music can conjure up different moods and characters.
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Philharmonia Orchestra Biography
The Philharmonia is an orchestra based in London. Since 1995 it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the Resident Orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Bedford Corn Exchange.
The orchestra was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, and although it did give the occasional live concert, it was mainly intended to be a recording orchestra for EMI, where Legge was an executive. Thomas Beecham led its debut concert in 1946, but he was ruled out as a long-term conductor of the group when he tried to take control of the orchestra and change its name (Beecham instead went on to found his own Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).
In its early years, many prominent conductors made recordings with the ensemble, including Arturo Toscanini and Wilhelm Furtwängler. However it was Herbert von Karajan (who was not allowed to work in Germany or Austria at the time because of his Nazi record) who was most associated with the Philharmonia in its early years. Karajan built the orchestra into one of the finest ensembles in the world, and made numerous recordings, including all the Beethoven symphonies.
The Philharmonia is the most recorded orchestra in the world, with over one thousand recordings. It has also been heard on the soundtracks of many films, performing the musical scores of such classics as Laurence Olivier's 1944 film version of Shakespeare's Henry V, and David Lean's film version of Oliver Twist (1948).
Read MoreThe orchestra was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, and although it did give the occasional live concert, it was mainly intended to be a recording orchestra for EMI, where Legge was an executive. Thomas Beecham led its debut concert in 1946, but he was ruled out as a long-term conductor of the group when he tried to take control of the orchestra and change its name (Beecham instead went on to found his own Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).
In its early years, many prominent conductors made recordings with the ensemble, including Arturo Toscanini and Wilhelm Furtwängler. However it was Herbert von Karajan (who was not allowed to work in Germany or Austria at the time because of his Nazi record) who was most associated with the Philharmonia in its early years. Karajan built the orchestra into one of the finest ensembles in the world, and made numerous recordings, including all the Beethoven symphonies.
The Philharmonia is the most recorded orchestra in the world, with over one thousand recordings. It has also been heard on the soundtracks of many films, performing the musical scores of such classics as Laurence Olivier's 1944 film version of Shakespeare's Henry V, and David Lean's film version of Oliver Twist (1948).
Classical
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