ACCLAIMED Tyneside folk sisters The Unthanks are teaming up with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in a project to celebrate the Phil’s 175th anniversary.
Symphonic Adventure, a new cycle of Folk Songs for The Unthanks and Orchestra, will be premiered next March as part of a residency which will see them involved with aspects of Liverpool Philharmonic’s learning programme.
It’s not the first time the Northumbrian duo, Rachel and Becky, have made music with a large scale ensemble. Their 2012 album with Yorkshire’s Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band was met with critical acclaim.
The announcement comes as The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra unveils its 2015-2016 season, the tenth under the baton of Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko.
More than 1,000 guests turned up at the hall to hear what’s in store. The new season features orchestral and choral music from across the classical repertoire, international artists and new music commissions from some of today’s leading composers.
Vasily Petrenko conducts 24 concerts in Liverpool, beginning with the season opening concerts (24 & 25 September) which include the first premiere of seven in the season, A Celebration Overture written by Nigel Hess. Throughout, Petrenko and the orchestra will continue their critically acclaimed, signature journeys through the music of Russian composers including Tchaikovsky in the 175th anniversary of his birth, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov.
In other concerts, Petrenko leads the orchestra in Strauss’s epic Alpine Symphony (1 & 4 October) and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Huddersfield Choral Society and guest soloists; Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 (12 & 13 November) and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 (28 & 31 January).
Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski returns to perform Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto in a concert that includes Debussy’s La Mer and the world premiere of Six Lancashire Folksong Settings, retold by principal horn player Timothy Jackson (17 & 19 February).
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir performs Haydn’s Heiligmesse (7 November), Handel’s Messiah (9 January) and with Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir, Orff’s Carmina Burana (6 February) and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (23 March).
Lithuanian-born violinist Julian Rachlin’s residency (19 -28 November) sees him perform as conductor, soloist and chamber musician in a diverse set of concert programmes that showcase his virtuosity. Following a triumphant debut conducting Handel’s Messiah in January this year, the French conductor and singer Nathalie Stutzmann returns to conduct the Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (23 March) and sing Schubert’s Winterreise in recital (23 January).
Harpist Catrin Finch, who performed in recital as part of Bryn Terfel’s tenure as Artist in Residence in 2013, returns to perform with Senagalese kora player, Seckou Keita. Her residency (10, 12, 13 May /9 & 10 June) will see her perform as soloist with the orchestra in concerts conducted by both Petrenko and Andrew Manze, as well as in recital.
