Andrew Manze Conducts Mozart and Bruckner

with Timothy Ridout – viola

and the Bedfordshire Music Trust Orchestra

Programme

MOZART Clarinet Concerto in A major, K 622 arranged for viola

– Interval –

BRUCKNER Symphony No. 5 in B flat major

Andrew Manze, once a player with the Bedfordshire County Youth Orchestra and now an internationally renowned conductor, returns to his home town to conduct a specially invited orchestra of professional and semi-professional musicians from Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. All net proceeds from the event will go to the Bedfordshire Music Trust, which supports young musicians from the area by organising instrumental courses and Bedfordshire Youth Opera.

The concert also features another former BCYO player, Timothy Ridout, who has now established himself as one of the most sought-after viola players of his generation. A former BBC New Generation Artist, Timothy has appeared with the BBC Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, the Philharmonia and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and has performed at the Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw and Philharmonie Köln. His performance of the Elgar cello concerto transcribed for viola won a Gramophone award and his recent Lionel Tertis Celebration on the Harmonia Mundi label has received many accolades.

To begin the concert Timothy plays the viola transcription of Mozart’s much-loved Clarinet Concerto. After the interval the orchestra celebrates Anton Bruckner’s 200^th anniversary with a performance of his awe-inspiring 5^th Symphony, which concludes with “the most monumental Finale of the entire musical literature of the world” (Wilhelm Furtwängler).

Public money is focused on giving every young child a brief introduction to playing an instrument or singing. But there is little support for developing their talents beyond that stage. Without that support our strong musical heritage will decline, affecting those who play and those who enjoy listening to music. If you wish to make an additional donation to Bedfordshire Music Trust, please visit https://tinyurl.com/4e4ud86p