MUSIC APPRECIATION
THE UNKNOWN OPERAS: A TOUR DOWN UMFAMILIAR ROADS
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomGiuseppe Verdi wrote some of the most celebrated operas ever known. Many of us have never heard some of his pre-fame magical works. Of around thirty stage works, seven or eight form a regular part of opera company repertoire; the remainder given only a rare airing, remain largely hidden. We will unearth some of this
FULLY BOOKED: WAGNER: THE EASY WAY
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomPeople often keep Wagner at arm's length. Avoiding 'heavy' sounds and 'longueurs', this course aims to make his music approachable, with scenes and excerpts from across his operas. Throughout, the emphasis will be on Wagner's expressive music. A repeat due to demand! Ian France (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
RECITAL: THE INSTRUMENT OF THE DEVIL
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom“CLAR’NETS, HOWEVER BE BAD AT ALL TIMES ... DEPEND UPON’T, IF SO BE YOU HAVE THEM TOOTING CLAR’NETS YOU’LL SPOIL THE WHOLE SET-OUT”. So said Michael Mail and Mr Penny in Thomas Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree. Ambrose Bierce in his Devil’s Dictionary also had a similar opinion: “CLARINET: AN INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE OPERATED BY
FULLY BOOKED: RACHMANINOV’S WORKS FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA
Rachmaninov's reputation rests largely on his piano concertos and his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Includes a special feature on American pianist Van Cliburn who won Russia's top piano competition at the height of the Cold War by playing Rachmaninov. Ian France (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
SIBELIUS AND GRIEG
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomSibelius (1865-1957) and Grieg (1843-1907) were 2 of the foremost composers to emerge from Scandinavia in the Romantic era. They complement each other well, with the Finnish master excelling in larger-scale symphonic form, and the Norwegian being a supreme craftsman of chamber and piano music, and songs. We will look into their lives and musical
FULLY BOOKED: THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM BYRD
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomThis year is the 400th anniversary of William Byrd (ca 1540-1623), one of the greatest English composers. This course will consider the dangerous and tumultuous context of his life and works, as a Catholic composer working at the court of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I. Learn about the genres, resources and sounds of late Tudor
PRINCELY PIANO CONCERTOS
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomFrom the genius of Mozart (no.20), that prince of concerto writers, we will survey many of the peaks of the repertoire. Mighty Beethoven (no.3), lyrical Chopin (no.1), popular Grieg, symphonic Brahms (nos.1 and 2) and famous Tchaikovsky (no.1). Ian France (Cumbria highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
FULLY BOOKED: MAHLER 5, 6 AND 7
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomMahler’s central triptych of purely orchestral symphonies offers a less fanciful, more mature and realistic approach than his early symphonies. The Fifth moves from death to life, the Sixth Mahler himself called the “Tragic” and the Seventh explores “night music”. Ian France (Cumbria highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
BRAHMS AND THE SCHUMANNS
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomJohannes Brahms (1833-97) and Robert Schumann (1810-56) were 2 of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Their lives were intertwined through the remarkable figure of Clara Schumann (1819- 96). We will explore this ‘musical threesome’ through orchestral, chamber and piano music, choral works and songs. Chris Rodwell (Lancashire highamhall.com/chris-rodwell) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
OVERTURES
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomTraditionally, concerts always began with an overture featuring colourful orchestration and memorable melodies. Starting with Mozart and Beethoven we will examine overtures by Rossini, Mendelssohn and Weber, Verdi and Wagner, Smetana, Dvorak and other European and Russian composers, plus lighter works by Von Suppe and Nicolai. Ian will educate your ear and enrich your understanding