The Sounds of Shakespeare

Our Principal Guest Conductor Lucy Hollins leads the orchestra through a programme of Shakespearean adaptations, accompanied by excerpts from some of the Bard’s most beloved plays performed by Anna Tolputt and Matt Pinches.

Tchaikovsky’s Hamlet Overture and Shostakovich’s Hamlet Suite  paint the twists and turns of Shakespeare’s tragedy in two contrasting musical landscapes. Tchaikovsky’s overture sears with a brooding intensity reminiscent of the Fifth Symphony, whilst Shostakovich’s incidental music to the play brings a visceral modernity to the drama. Something is indeed rotten in the state of Denmark…

In the second half, Tchaikovsky’s high Romanticism combines with Leonard Bernstein’s jazz-infused Broadway sound-world in differing musical depictions of Romeo and Juliet. Whilst the Russian composer seeks to depict old Verona in the opening chorale, Bernstein transplants the story into 1950s New York, with ground-breaking results.

This concert will be preceded by a pre-concert showcase, featuring work from our two year school’s education project at Swavesey Village College and Pendragon Primary (in Papworth).

This project has been kindly supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Pye Foundation. 

PLEASE NOTE – The main performance will begin at 7.30pm, but is preceded by the pre-concert showcase featuring local schools work (commencing at 6.45pm).