2010 Media Releases
The Fountain of Fantasy
26 February 2010
8pm, Saturday 13 March
Pymble Ladies College
Avon Road, Pymble
Tickets: $35 adult, $30 concession, $70 family
Mendelssohn: The Fair Melusine Overture
Sibelius: Pelleas and Melisande, Op 46
Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus, Op 43
Welcome the 2010 symphony season, set your imagination free and treat yourself to Willoughby Symphony’s breathtaking repertoire of classical pieces from Mendelssohn, Sibelius and Beethoven in The Fountain of Fantasy, the opening concert for the 2010 season, under the baton of guest Conductor Nicholas Carter.
Guest Conductor, Nicholas Carter, is enthralled to be part of Willoughby Symphony’s first concert for 2010. “I look forward to perform alongside the Willoughby Symphony in what is sure to be a stellar performance. A program of myth, legend and fantasy set to music will evoke, portray and stir the imaginations of all the audience, taking them from Prometheus through to Pelleas. Creation, love and death - this is where great music is at its best," said, Nicholas Carter.
Willoughby Symphony will begin the concert with Mendelssohn’s The Fair Melusine Overture, written in 1833 by Felix Mendelssohn; the piece is short yet captivating and through music conveys the story of Melusine, a mermaid, who was able to become human for short periods of time. She married the Count Raymond of Poiters, on the condition that he never was to see her on certain days, when she reverted to her maiden form. Eventually, Raymond spied on her only to discover her hidden secret. The first section of music employs a gracefully burbling theme introduced by clarinets, suggesting Melusine and her natural environment, soon followed by a long turbulent passage relating to the storm and stress of life among humans.
The fantasy lingers with Sibelius’ elaborate piece Pelleas and Melisande, based on the 1905 play written by Belgian symbolist poet Maurice Maeterlinck. The play is set in the medieval illusionary world of Allemonde, ruled by King Arkel. The symphony’s tender melodies explore and convey the heightened storyline to audiences as King Arkel is faced to deal with the passionate yet doomed affair between Palleas and the beautiful Melisande.
To conclude the evening, the Willoughby Symphony will take you on a mythical journey of ancient Greece as they perform Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus. The story is based around a prominent character in Greek mythology who creates a man and a women from clay and water and brings them to life by stealing fire from the gods.
“The Willoughby Symphony will treat audiences with an exceptional collection of musical pieces from renowned composers,” said Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly.
In 2009, Nicholas took up the position of Assistant Conductor to Vladimir Ashkenazy of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
For further information or to purchase tickets phone 9777 7547.
Media Contact
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Phone: 9777 7703
Mobile: 0421 492 757
Email: rebecca.hill@willoughby.nsw.gov.au