Ian France – (Music Appreciation: Opera & Classical)

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  3. Ian France – (Music Appreciation: Opera & Classical)
A former Head of Music in local secondary schools, Ian first lectured at Higham in 2014. Since then he has delivered over 50 music appreciation courses, from Mozart to Richard Strauss. Feedback usually mentions these three E’s: enthusiasm, entertainment and education. Ian specializes in the music of the 19th Century, especially Orchestral and Operatic, which can be characterized by the term Romantic. Ian is an organist at Dacre and he is one of the pianists at Mirehouse.
Courses from this organiser
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FULLY BOOKED: VIOLIN CONCERTOS OF THE ROMANTIC ERA

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Following 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 Kingdom

Romantic 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 Kingdom

People 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 Kingdom

Verdi’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 Kingdom

From 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 Kingdom

Mahler’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 Kingdom

Traditionally, 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 

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FULLY BOOKED: TCHAIKOVSKY 4, 5 AND 6

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Tchaikovsky’s last three symphonies are considered his greatest orchestral works. An obsession with fate tends to dominate the outer movements: ‘doom-laden’ and ‘heart-on the-sleeve’ are terms frequently applied. By contrast the middle movements are graceful, sounding not unlike ballet music. Following a now-familiar format, Ian will guide you expertly through these pieces, drawing out aspects 

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FULLY BOOKED: GREAT OPERA SCENES BY VERDI AND PUCCINI

Higham Hall College Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom

In this course we will look at two Italian composers with a passion for passion: Verdi's Rigoletto, Il Trovatore , La Traviata and Puccini's La Boheme, Tosca and Madama Butterfly all revolve around intense scenes in which high drama and high emotion are exquisitely echoed and amplified by their musical scores. Verdi’s scenes revolve around 

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