Following two spectacular performances at the BBC Proms in London this summer, Thomas Søndergård returns to Cardiff to conduct the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales once more at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, on Friday 4 October.
As part of his debut BBC Proms season, Søndergård conducted Shostakovich’s Eleventh Symphony to great critical acclaim – and he now returns to Cardiff in October to conduct Shostakovich’s Symphony No 8. Also featured will be the BBC National Chorus of Wales in Poulenc’s Gloria, in the first concert where Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård will lead the Chorus in St David’s Hall.
Poulenc’s Gloria will feature the Orchestra and Chorus, joined by the talented Norwegian soprano Marita Sølberg. This joyful work is full of youthful vitality – inspired by the sight of Benedictine monks playing football, and frescoes of angels with their tongues sticking out.
Eugene Monteith, who sings with BBC National Chorus of Wales, is particularly looking forward to performing Poulenc’s Gloria at St David’s Hall: “It’s a wonderful piece, full of quirky orchestration and dazzling harmonic colour – I can’t wait.
“We’re really looking forward to performing the Gloria, and particularly excited to see what Thomas Søndergård will bring to the Chorus, now that we’ve seen what he’s bringing to the Orchestra.”
In his first concert in Cardiff with BBC National Chorus of Wales, Thomas Søndergård is relishing the opportunity to work with the Chorus: “I effectively grew up in an opera house, and vocal music has always meant something very special to me. To work with choirs of the quality that we have here in Wales is something that really makes my heart beat faster.
“Poulenc’s Gloria is one of my favourite pieces, so I’m really looking forward to performing it with the wonderful Marita Solberg”
In the second half of the concert, Søndergård will lead the Orchestra in Shostakovich’s powerful Symphony No 8 – written at the height of Soviet Russian censorship against Soviet artists.
One of Shostakovich’s darkest pieces, which he described himself as his “requiem”, it uses the extended Orchestra to great effect, with its emotional and moving music sure to wow audiences.
The Orchestra’s Principal Bass Clarinet, Lenny Sayers, has studied the works of Shostakovich and highly rates his Eighth Symphony: “Playing Shostakovich is always both exhilarating and terrifying! In fact in this symphony, there’s not a single member of the Orchestra who gets off lightly. Although written in the height of Soviet Russia, we can listen to it now with fresh ears and really enjoy this emotional journey that he has created for us.”
Tickets for the Orchestra and Chorus’s concert, on Friday 4 October, 7.30pm, are £10-£29 (discounts available) and are available through the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Audience Line, by calling 0800 052 1812.
Alternatively, tickets are available through the St David’s Hall Box Office on 029 2087 8444, or online at stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk.
