The Swan continues its residency at Warwick Hall on March 17th with a concert featuring acclaimed violinist Thomas Gould, directing three of the most popular pastoral themed pieces in the classical canon from the violin – The Lark Ascending by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, Elgar Serenade and Beethoven’s Symphony No.6.
Taking place at Warwick Hall, Warwick on Thursday 17 March, the programme will also feature Bartók’s Romanian Dances, an infectiously rhythmic and exotic exploration of the Romanian folk tradition.
The Lark Ascending, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2021, has reached Number 1 in Classic FM’s ‘Hall of Fame’ charts no less than nine times, so its performance in 2022, a year that marks Vaughan Williams’s 150th anniversary, is a fitting tribute to his genius.
havingto isolate.The students he’d been teaching cello to took part anyway though and everyone had a brilliant, fun time playing the instruments the Birmingham Music Hub had lent the students for this project.
“I think The Lark Ascending is popular because it’s compositionally so arresting and unusual..."
Thomas Gould, who has given more than twenty performances of The Lark Ascending during his career including at the Royal Albert Hall, explains his fondness for this much-loved people pleaser: “The Lark Ascending must be the most frequently performed piece in my repertoire and is one of very few classical pieces that allows the performer total freedom at times, and it’s hugely rewarding to perform because of that.”
Thomas continues: “I think The Lark Ascending is popular because it’s compositionally so arresting and unusual – with its extended improvisatory solo sections and its honest and sincere beauty. It’s not a show-off piece at all.”
This is the second concert performed as part of The Swan’s new residency at Warwick Hall in partnership with the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation. The new collaboration will see The Swan’s professional players work alongside Warwickshire Music Hub to take instrumental workshops and masterclasses into local primary and secondary schools, ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to discover and experience the joys of music.
Pastoral with Thomas Gould takes place on Thursday 17 March 2022 at Warwick Hall, Warwick. For tickets head to Bridgehousetheatre.co.uk.
Tickets cost £15 and £5 for under 16s.
