End of an era?

Apologies for the lengthy break between my last post and this one. I've been busy slotting in orchestras for next season and am pleased (and slightly relieved) that all of them are now in place. And the repertoire? Well, that's a different matter. I reckon half of it is decided but there's still quite a away to go before I can say for definite what you'll be hearing in 2009-10. which, in itself, feels slightly odd since we haven't even got a quarter of the way into next season yet. And I'm even discussing a few dates for 2010-11 now, which feels like a very long way off indeed. I guess I'll get used to it.

Anyway, the season so far has been going really well. We've had big audiences for all three concerts and sinfonia VIVA's concert with Ruth Palmer (what a talent!) was ViVA's biggest Nottingham Classics audience for at least a decade. And its performance of Beethoven's 5th Symphony was a revelation - taut, urgent and fiery...everything that a good No.5 ought to be.

Perhaps the biggest event so far this season was the CBSO's performance of Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony with the Nottingham Harmonic Society Choir. The idea had come from the Harmonic Society's former Chairman, John Parry, and it is was a significant development for us because it's been many years since the Harmonic Society sang as part of Nottingham Classics and it meant that the concert had to be booked in a different way from how we'd normally do things. Peter Bolton, our former programmer, had contracted the orchestra, choir, soloists and conductor separately, which made the concert a more complex equation than normal. And, as it turned out, the choice of conductor turned out to be a big issue. John and Peter had originally chosen Richard Hickox (more on him in a minute), who was unavailable due to commitments in Australia. They then decided on Vernon Handley, who would, it was anticipated, bring some of his Vaughan Williams magic to this very challenging symphony.

As you may know, Vernon Handley died in september, leaving us with some big shoes to fill. As it turned out we found someone who was totally capable of filling them. Rising star conductor, John Wilson was suggested by Vernon Handley's agents as someone whose experience of conducting English music would make him an excellent replacement. Recommended by the CBSO, too, we booked him without hesitation and we're very glad that we did. Watching him take the choir rehearsal in Nottingham it was obvious that he'd immediately got the choir with him and his attention to detail was really impressive. Bear in mind, too, that John had never conducted the Sea Symphony before so this was a significant challenge given the time available. However, when I heard the first bars of the final rehearsal I knew we were in for something special and we duly got it. The performance itself was a triumph. John held this sometimes unwieldy work together expertly and the choir sang heroically. It was one of those performances that will last a long time in my memory.

So, to the title of this week's blog. As you may now also know, Richard Hickox - our original choice for conductor of the Sea Symphony - has now also died at just sixty. Two of the great Vaughan Williams conductors of the age are now no longer with us and it's tempting to talk of the end of an era. There are obviously others who can take on their mantle - Paul Daniel and Martyn Brabbins being two of them - but maybe we can add another name. John Wilson is still in his thirties and seems made for this repertoire. John told me after the concert that he'd like eventually to conduct all the Vaughan Williams symphonies and I hope that Nottingham Classics can play a part in helping him achieve this ambition. It'll definitely be worth hearing.

Earth-cracking opener

Well, after what's felt like a long run up to the start of the Nottingham Classics 2008-9 season it finally exploded upon us with a foundation-threatening performance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring from the Halle. It was also the first appearance in Notingham for the Halle's newly-appointed Principal Guest Conductor (for 2009-10, that is, which I guess makes him the Principal Guest Conductor Designate or something), Markus Stenz.

I had a quick chat with Markus after the concert and, like virtually all conductors who've been to the Royal Concert Hall, he really loved the sound here. His next appointment in Nottingham will be with Mahler's Second Symphony in 2010, which should really put the spectacle into 'spectacular'.

Anyway, after a thrilling performance like last Saturday's you sometimes wonder how you can possibly follow it. Thankfully, on this occasion, we've no such worries. Next Saturday, 8 November, Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony - one of the first truly great British symphonies - is treated to a performance from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with our own Nottingham Harmonic Society Choir and stellar soloists, Janice Watson and Roderick Williams.

You may be aware that this concert was orginally to be conducted by Vernon Handley, who sadly passed away in September. As a mark of respect to the great man, the concert is being dedicated to his memory and fittingly, the brilliant young conductor, John Wilson - himself a great champion of British music - will be wielding the baton.

Should be quite an event. Hope to see you there.

Neil