It's difficult to believe that we're over half way through the Royal Northern Sinfonia/Sage's seasonal events calendar. Even so, I still wanted to preview RNS concerts until the end of the season, as there's so much more to enjoy and feel uplifted by. The theme for this season is "music and spirituality" which ties in with the Lindisfarne Gospels coming back to Newcastle for the first time in 22 years. After such a tumultuous time we all need experiences that uplift the soul and spirit and help us to get in touch with a force that's bigger than us.
On 17th February, The Sage welcomes classical chart topper Alina Ibragimova directing two Mozart pieces from the violin, his Third Concerto composed when he was a teenager and Posthorn Serenade. The audience can also enjoy the frenzied tribute Moz-Art a la Hadyn by Alfred Schnittke and the poetic Soliloquy by Jennifer Higdon.
Things switch up a bit on 24th February with a musicals extravaganza - RNS Rodgers & Hammerstein (Some Enchanted Evening). Be transported to Austria with songs from The Sound of Music, 1860s Siam for tunes from The King & I and sing along to famous numbers from Oklahoma and South Pacific amongst other classics. The performance features an all star West End cast alongside the RNS.
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| From top left - Ibragimova, Rodgers & Hammerstein, City Lights and Kanneh-Mason |
Two weeks later on 17th March, fans of music and film are in for a truly unique evening with a special showing of silent movie City Lights, the 1931 classic starring screen legend Charlie Chaplin as the Little Tramp who falls for a blind flower girl. Watching this beautiful film accompanied by the RNS (conducted by Stefan Geiger) playing the full orchestral soundtrack (written by Chaplin himself) is sure to be an unforgettable experience. I absolutely love films in concert and this is not to be missed.
Don't miss classical music superstars violinist Nicola Benedetti, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor and Sheku Kanneh-Mason (who played cello at Prince Harry's wedding) with the RNS on 14th April conducted by Dinis Sousa. Beethoven fans will enjoy his sunny Triple Concerto and Swedish composer Britta Byrstom's Walk To Beethoven. Then venture to Italy with Mendelssohn's Symphony Number 4. And on 28th April the legendary Dame Sarah Connolly returns to perform Mahler's heart-rending Ruckert-Lieder, alongside symphonies by Schubert and Brahms.
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| From top left Dame Connolly, Star Wars in Concert, Wloszczowska and Final Symphony |
May the Fourth Be With You! Don't miss RNS Plays Star Wars on well, Star Wars Day May 4th obviously. Expect musical highlights all the way from The Phantom Menace to The Rise of Skywalker. John Williams is a living legend and his work will sound incredible played by the RNS and Chorus (the Dual of the Fates is guaranteed to be epic).
In May audiences can enjoy more sublime Beethoven on 12th May directed by the award-winning RNS leader Maria Wloszczowska. She'll lead the RNS in renditions of his Violin Concerto and his haunting Cavatina, alongside work by Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. Then on 26th May venture to Scandinavia for RNS: Nordic Symphonies. Guest conductor and pianist Olli Mustonen leads the RNS on a journey through the delights of Sibelius, Grieg and Nielson.
June sees the 2022/2023 season come to a close, but not before a truly unique evening on 4th June. Final Symphony showcases the music from the hugely popular Final Fantasy games. Catch the RNS in concert with pianist Mischa Chung and conductor Eckhard Stier, playing the epic soundtrack by Nobou Uematsu. Then put 10th June in your diary and don't miss the season finale featuring Andreas Ottensamer, principal clarinettist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The RNS led by Conductor Dinas Sousa are sure to give a rousing and passionate performance of Dvorak's Symphony No. 7, Marinu's Double Concerto and Brahms' Clarinet Concerto.
To find out more and to book please visit the Royal Northern Sinfonia web page here.
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