CONCERTS
2019 SEASON
Date/Time Saturday 23rd March at 7.30pm & Sunday 24th March at 2.30pm
Location Memorial Hall, Bowral
Opening with Verdi’s Overture to Nabucco, best recognised by the rousing theme of the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves. The Second Piano Concerto by Australian composer, SHSO patron and Southern Highlands resident, Ann Carr-Boyd, was performed by John Martin, who has worked with many stars in Australian and international concert and theatre productions. John generously gave an encore with one of Gershwin’s Preludes, creating a languid bluesy atmosphere. The second half of the program featured Elgar’s Enigma Variations, with a repeat of the much-loved ‘Nimrod’ variation for an encore.
VERDI Nabucco Overture
ANN CARR-BOYD Piano Concerto No.12 Soloist John Martin
ELGAR Enigma Variations
CONDUCTOR Dr Allan Stiles
Date/Time Saturday 29th June at 7.30pm & Sunday 30th June at 2.30pm
Location Memorial Hall, Bowral
The program opened with the “Pageantry” overture by Alfred Hill followed by the Concert piece for Four Horns by Robert Schumann. This work showcases the far-ranging sonorities of the horn and was superbly performed by Robert Johnson, Radu Boros, Paul Stiles and Patrick Webb. The four soloists generously played some much-appreciated encore quartets at both concerts. The second half of the program was given over to Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”. This was the second time that the orchestra has performed this masterful work as it was on the inaugural program in 2014 and now back by popular demand.
ALFRED HILL Pageantry
SCHUMANN Concertpiece for Four Horns and Orchestra Soloists Robert Johnson, Radu Boros, Paul Stiles and Patrick Webb
DVOŘÁK Symphony No.9 “From the New World”
CONDUCTOR Dr Allan Stiles
Date/Time Saturday 21st September at 7.30pm & Sunday 22nd September at 2.30pm
Location Memorial Hall, Bowral
Loyal and appreciative audiences were treated to a wonderful program that opened with John Williams’ Phantom Menace Suite from Star Wars. This exciting music was composed for the prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy and draws on many of the familiar themes from the film. Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole was then performed by the very talented young violinist, Cedar-Rose Newman, who conveyed the Spanish flavour of this concerto with lyricism, vitality and technical brilliance. Saint Saens’ Symphony No. 3 “Organ Symphony” completed the program. The orchestra’s forces were expanded for this majestic work which brought the concert series to a triumphant close.
JOHN WILLIAMS The Phantom Menace – Suite from Star Wars
LALO Symphonie Espagnole Soloist Cedar-Rose Newman
SAINT SAENS Symphony No. 3 “Organ Symphony”
CONDUCTOR Dr Allan Stiles
Date/Time Saturday 30th November at 7.30pm & Sunday 1st December at 2.30pm
Location Memorial Hall, Bowral
The program opened with the première performance of Big Bang, a work commissioned by the orchestra from local composer and orchestra patron, Andrew Ford, in memory of Richard Gill. The project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, and in NSW through Regional Arts NSW. Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto, a favourite of the repertoire, was then performed by local pianist, Lisa Kawai, to a rapturous reception. In the second half, the orchestra was joined by the dancers from A & L Academie de Danse in a colourful performance of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The concert concluded with happy medley, A Christmas Festival, by Leroy Anderson in an expression of thanks and best wishes to our loyal patrons and subscribers for their support in 2019.
ANDREW FORD Big Bang (premiere performance) Conducted by the Composer
RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No.2 Soloist Lisa Kawai
TCHAIKOVSKYNutcracker Suite with dancers from A&L Academie de Danse
LEROY ANDERSON A Christmas Festival
CONDUCTOR Dr Allan Stiles