Caroline Brodie
A starburst of musical colour promises to raise the rafters of an Aberdeen cathedral today.
A jam-packed programme of iconic 20th century orchestral works will be performed by the University of Aberdeen Symphony Orchestra in its first concert of the academic year.
The concert, at St Andrew’s Cathedral, follows the success of their sold-out 2015-16 season finale.
The evening’s entertainment will kick off with the relentless snare drum of French composer Maurice Ravel’s Bolero followed by the smouldering clarinet of George Gershwin’s perennially-popular Rhapsody in Blue.
However, organisers say it will be the epic finale of Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite – based on Russian fairy tales of a magical glowing bird – that will really steal the show in a concert “packed with drama and excitement from start to finish”.
The orchestra is also delighted to welcome American conductor, composer, pianist and organist John Frederick Hudson, who is currently doing a PhD in composition at Aberdeen University, where he has been studying with world-renowned UK composor Paul Mealor whose composition Ubi Caritas was performed at the royal wedding of Prince William and Katherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
Mr Hudson will also perform the piano solo in Rhapsody in Blue.
Orchestra chairman Matthew Clark said performing The Firebird Suite had “been on the cards” for a few years.
He added: “The repertoire depends on the players we have available and given the standard of these players, it was decided we would be able to pull off this challenging programme.
“We are also delighted to have John Frederick Hudson on board.
“Boloro and Rhapsody in Blue are always popular but The Firebird Suite is extremely well known and it will be a great climax to the concert.
“St Andrews is also a fantastic venue.”
The concert begins at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £10 for adults, £5 concession – and free for students – can only be purchased at the door.