SBS Youth Orchestra - Cultures and Legacies September 18, 2010

2010 marks the 200th anniversary the bicentenary of the great composer Chopin’s birth and in a fitting celebration the SBS Youth Orchestra is presenting Cultures and Legacies, a very special tribute to both the Chopin’s work and his far-reaching influence on music and musicians. Cultures and Legacies is at Riverside Theatres on Sunday, 19 September at 3pm for one performance only.

Chopin’s compositions were hailed as genius; his love affair with George Sand established him as a great romantic figure. The raw passion of Chopin’s Polish heritage made his music a sensation in the Salons of Europe and in particular, Paris.

The program for Cultures and Legacies includes a selection of Chopin’s work and a number of pieces from composers influenced by Chopin including Mozart, Mendelssohn, de Falla & Mageau. Cultures and Legacies is conducted by Geoffrey Gartner and significantly for Australian audiences, the solo piano works of Chopin are performed by talented pianist Esther Kim, a young Australian of Korean background.

Chopin, Mozart and Mendelssohn share some similarities in their lives. All were regarded as keyboard prodigies when young and all died before their 40th birthday. Mendelssohn was a contemporary of Chopin and it is interesting to hear the individual melodic treatments employed by another celebrated composer of that time.

Manuel de Falla’s life has fascinating parallels with Chopin. A talented pianist as a child and later spending time in Paris, he left his homeland Spain in 1939 after the political turmoil in his country put the Franco regime into power. He died in Argentina, but after his death his body was returned to his homeland and buried there.

Mary Mageau is an American born Australian Composer who, like all the composers in the program, has lived much of her life away from her homeland. She is greatly influenced by multiculturalism, particularly Asian cultures.

The SBS Youth Orchestra was formed in Australia’s Bicentennial year, 1988, by Russian-born conductor Matthew Krel with the help of the Special Broadcasting Service in Sydney. One of its unique aims is to give young musicians experience in performing for national broadcast on television and radio. It was a participant in the Olympic Cultural Festival leading up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and has produced more than sixty television programs, many of them linked to tours to many countries in Europe and Asia. This tour will include the orchestra’s first tour to Poland and they are making a television program to celebrate the Bicentennial of Fryderyk Chopin during their visit.

SBS Youth Orchestra at Riverside Theatres, cnr of Church and Market Streets Parramatta
DATES: Sunday, 19 September
TIMES: 3pm
TICKETS: Adults $30; Conc $26; 30 and Under $22
BOOKINGS: Riverside Theatres Box Office on 8839 3399

Official Website: http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au