Name: BBC NOW 2023-24 Season American Explorations
Start: 2024-05-03T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-05-04T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Wales Millennium Centre

Admin

BBC Welsh National Orchestra

Conductor

Ryan Bancroft

Orchestra

Instrumentalist

Benjamin Baker

Violin I

Violin

BBC NOW 2023-24 Season American Explorations

Cardiff

United Kingdom

Wales Millennium Centre

BBC Hoddinott Hall

Newport

The Riverfront

Public

Concert

Adagio For Strings, Op. 11

Violin Concerto, Op. 14

Symphony No. 2

Saurav Kumar

Approved

Join us for a celebration of American classical music with our LA born Principal Conductor, Ryan Bancroft this May! Popular the world over, Barber’s Adagio for Strings is one of the most recognizable pieces in the orchestral repertoire and probably his best known work – used in film and television, and poignant for its performance at Roosevelt’s funeral and following the assassination of JFK, you’re sure to have heard this iconic piece!

Less well-know, but equally dazzling is his violin concerto. Written in the 1930’s when atonality were vying for attention, the traditional melody, rhythm, harmony and orchestration of Barber’s music was met with more than mild enthusiasm. Expansive and at times moody themes dominate, with hints of orientalism, folk and Russian grittiness; syncopation and distinctive counter-rhythms drive an exciting narrative and virtuosity prevail at every turn. To perform the solo role we’re thrilled to welcome the charismatic violinist, Ben Baker.

We continue our exploration of the music of Charles Ives with Ryan Bancroft, with his Second Symphony. Infamous for quoting well-known American melodies, this symphony is his first major work which fully explores this borrowing, blended with European influences – a snapshot of the coming together of his childhood and adult life.

English

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Instrumentation

Ensemble