Programme of concerts set to delight classical-music lovers
Following its recent highly successfully and epic Mahler concert in Exeter Cathedral, the enterprising Isca Ensemble returns to its home base of Sidmouth Parish Church to continue its current series of concerts. The first event in the New Year features a Light Orchestral Concert on February 5 showcasing popular works by Richard Rogers, Anderson, Khachaturian and many others, plus the première of an exciting work by Exeter composer, Alfie Pugh specially commissioned by the orchestra. The concert on March 19 sees the return of the renowned South Korean violinist Joo Yeon Sir in a performance of the exquisite violin concerto by Sir Edward Elgar. A summer concert on July 2 features the classical guitarist James Girling in a performance of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Fantasía para un gentilhombre for guitar and orchestra. Versatile performer, improviser, arranger and composer, James is a 26-year-old guitarist currently based in Manchester. The next concert by the Ensemble takes place in Sidmouth Parish Church on Saturday, December 18 which features the extremely talented Polish pianist Lucas Krupinski. Recently returned from another successful tour of Germany and Poland, Lucas will be performing the idyllic Second Piano Concerto by Frederick Chopin. Lucas is a Steinway Artist, represented by the Ludwig van Beethoven Association and Madam Elzbieta Penderecki. Wagner composed the Siegfried Idyll as a birthday present to his second wife, Cosima, after the birth of their son Siegfried. It was first performed on Christmas morning, December 25, 1870, by a small ensemble of the Tonhalle Orchester, Zürich on the stairs of their villa at Tribschen, Switzerland. Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Mozart’s Symphony No 40 completes the December 18 programme.
