Orchestra promise ‘brilliant’ concert

THE Ulster Orchestra is bringing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, one of the most popular and evocative pieces of music to the Island Arts Centre on Thursday March 8 in Baroque Brilliance, a concert of timeless Baroque classics.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Feb 2012, 08:05 BST

The second concert in this JTI Regional Tour, which takes in Londonderry and Armagh, sees Northern Ireland’s only professional symphony orchestra perform the Four Seasons and music by Bach, Purcell and Handel’s uplifting Water Music – all under the direction of the Ulster Orchestra’s Hungarian-born Leader, violinist Tamás Kocsis.

Looking forward to the concert, Christopher Blake, the UO’s Principal Oboe player and one of the concert’s soloists said: “While we wait for spring to come, all four seasons will fill the Centre in one night! Everyone is familiar with the piece as it has appeared in films and adverts.

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“Nothing beats live music and to hear an orchestra in full flow, if you haven’t before, playing some of your favourite pieces of music is quite something. Beats CDs or your iPod. So if you love the Four Seasons, Handel’s Water Music or Bach’s great concerto for violin and oboe, which I will be playing with Tamás, we look forward to our return visit to the Island Arts Centre,” he said.

Talking about the Bach concerto Christopher said, “I have played this amazing concerto with the last two leaders of the Orchestra and am really looking forward to performing it with Tamás who is an extraordinary violinist.

“You need a lot of stamina for it because the music never stops which is unusual for a wind concerto. It is also a challenge to play in different places too, as the environment and acoustics differ from place to place, but we are all really looking forward to returning to the Island.”

Averaging 80-90 performances each year in, venues as diverse as the Ulster Hall, the home of the Ulster Orchestra, the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Gardens of Hillsborough Castle, the UO is no stranger to the Island Arts Centre, having played there last October.

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Also looking forward to the concert, Christina Hurson, Arts Programme Coordinator for the Island Arts Centre said: “Hearing live music is extraordinary. Getting up close and personal to a full orchestra of musicians who just live to play music is an experience to give you goose bumps. The Island Arts Centre is delighted once again to host the iconic Ulster Orchestra. We look forward to welcoming you, our audience, to the Island for an evening of beautiful baroque brilliance.”

Tickets for the concert are available from the Island Arts Centre on 9250 9254 or at www.islandartscentre.com.