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sinfonia ViVA in Derby

Wednesday 16th February 2011 at 7.30pm - Talking Music from 6.30pm
Assembly Rooms, Derby
Tickets: £15 to £27
Box Office: 01332 255800
Online booking available

Composer in the House Anna Meredith

Tonight's concert features the premiere of an exciting new commission - Four Tributes to 4am - by sinfonia ViVA's Composer in the House Anna Meredith, who has been working with the Orchestra and André de Ridder since her appointment to the role - a Royal Philharmonic Society and PRS for Music Foundation initiative - in December 2009.

The turbulent and tragic Robert Schumann, whose intention to become a concert pianist was defeated by an injury to his right hand, decided instead to study and master composition. His Zwickau Symphony in G minor was begun in 1832, the first movement receiving its premiere during the winter of that year, performed by his former piano teacher's thirteen year old daughter, Clara Wieck.

Anna Meredith's vibrant new work is hotly anticipated to provide a fresh and stimulating injection of modern feeling to proceedings. In the composer's words: "I'm looking forward to writing a large scale new work for ViVA to coincide with the ABO conference in February. I'm excited to be collaborating again with my sister - the illustrator Eleanor Meredith - to create a bold and atmospheric work with animation, electronics as well as orchestra."

Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony is his testament to the influence of the natural world, the music depicting the composer's love for and appreciation of the landscape and the forces of nature. Finished in 1808, the work takes us from the serenity of a gently depicted country scene with birdsong and babbling brook through to the unleashing of a full-blown storm before a resolution in the form of the thanksgiving song of shepherds. A truly timeless piece.

The concert falls during the Association of British Orchestras' annual conference which in 2011 is being hosted in Derby and sinfonia ViVA is delighted to welcome delegates.

This concert is being recorded by BBC Radio 3 for transmission at 7.00pm on Monday 21st February 2011.

Supported by Rolls-Royce plc, Derby City Council, Derby LIVE, Britten-Pears Foundation, Orchestras Live and Arts Council England. Anna Meredith is sinfonia ViVA's Composer in the House. Composer in the House is a Royal Philharmonic Society and PRS for Music Foundation initiative.