Music Scholars Trip Oxford
On Friday 6th June, an excited group of music scholars enjoyed a meal and concert in central Oxford.
After filling up with an all-you-can-eat menu at Cosmo, the scholars walked across to the Sheldonian Theatre to hear the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Litton.
The programme promised much and certainly delivered.
Kicking off with Wagner’s ‘Flying Dutchman’ Overture, pupils were delighted to spot fellow music scholar, Alice (Year 13), playing in the second desk of the cello section, as part of OPO’s ‘side by side’ scheme.
This evocative 10-minute overture revealed all the drama and romance of the opera, including stormy weather, lyrical melodies and love themes, with inevitable stabs of tragedy to keep the audience on their toes.
Following this was something completely different: the world premiere of Mats Lindström’s ‘Concerto for Cello and Orchestra’, marking the centenary of the birth of Robert F Kennedy.
The composer himself was the soloist in this concerto, demonstrating virtuosity and dexterity throughout.
Pupils were both engaged with and surprised by this piece, which was an eclectic mix of the traditional and modern in its use of harmony and texture, and with the addition of three singers who sang extracts of RFK’s speeches in the second and third movements.
After the interval, we sat back to appreciate the splendour of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 – a work which the composer described as ‘the best thing I have ever composed or will compose.’
This symphony presented Tchaikovsky’s thoughts on life and love (subjects on which he had plenty to say), with soaring melodic passages, passionate and dramatic moments, followed by a slow and tragic final movement.
Director of Performing Arts Mrs Aimee Jamison said: “We were delighted to spend the evening with our music scholars, who all thoroughly enjoyed the concert and the chance to celebrate a very busy year of music-making.”
