Corona Strings, one of Oxford’s best-loved professional ensembles, conducted by Janet Lincé, perform an enchanting programme of exquisite string miniatures entitled ‘Evening Idyll’ to conclude their 2016 season.
The hour-long programme opens with Mozart’s perennial favourite ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’, which translates as ‘A Little Night Music’. Dvorak’s beautiful ‘Nocturne’ provides a moment of reverie, and this is followed by the first published work written by Carl Nielsen, Denmark’s most prominent composer. Listeners of a certain age may recognise one of Grieg’s Norwegian Airs as the theme music to the children’s TV programme, ‘The Woodentops’, and Bartok’s spirited folk-inspired pieces capture something of the essence of Romanian gypsy dances in all their moods.
"The orchestra is really keen to explore the less well-known repertoire, explained conductor Janet Lincé, and Dvorák's atmospheric ‘Nocturne’ finds a welcome home in our forthcoming concert. In the Spring we are looking forward to performing Lars- Erik Larsson’s delightful ‘Serenade’ alongside the more famous one by Dag Wiren. We also aim to offer a platform for exciting soloists and are especially pleased that Jack McNeil will join us in Finzi’s gorgeous ‘Clarinet Concerto’."
Corona Strings, formed in 2012 and led by Catherine Leech, is a professional string orchestra based mainly in and around Oxford and known as a flexible and vibrant ensemble which includes a fine group of ‘period’ instrument players at its core. Repertoire showcases many of the standard classical works and the players share a particular enjoyment for programming pieces by home-grown composers.
One of Oxford’s oldest and most historic parish churches, St Mary Magdalen is located on Magdalen Street, opposite the Randolph Hotel and Debenhams department store. The concert is in aid of church tower roof repair appeal.