Ian France – (Music Appreciation: Opera & Classical)
FULLY BOOKED: VIOLIN CONCERTOS OF THE ROMANTIC ERA
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomFollowing the Classical precedents of Mozart and Beethoven, Romantic composers either wrote large symphonic violin concertos (Brahms and Tchaikovsky) or shorter expressive works (Mendelssohn and Bruch). Saint-Saens' no.3 and Glazunov's one movement concerto complete our lyrical study of the heart of the violin. Ian France (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
19th CENTURY CHARACTER PIECES FOR PIANO
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomRomantic composers moved away from sonatas for piano in favour of shorter pieces with poetic titles. Chopin's Ballade no.1, Brahms' 2nd Rhapsody, Mendelssohn’s Bee’s Wedding and Liszt's Un Sospiro, are amongst the familiar repertoire. Schumann, Grieg and Rachmaninov also feature. Ian France (Cumbria www.highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
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
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
VINTAGE VERDI
Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United KingdomVerdi’s ‘Masked Ball’ combines the comic with the tragic. Attractive arias and a lively role for the chorus fill a light and melodic score. Don Carlos has five main characters engaging our sympathies and some of Giuseppe’s greatest dramatic music depicting church, state and the individual. Ian France (Cumbria highamhall.com/ian-france) Residential: £270 Non-residential: £190
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
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