America! June 13, 2009

America!: Copland, Bernstein, Barber; Gershwin: Songs from Porgy and Bess

Bath Philharmonia
Bristol Choral Society

Adrian Partington – Conductor

Steven Kings – Piano
Maria Kesselman – Soprano
Denver Martin Smith – Bass

Saturday 13 June 2009, 7.30 pm
Colston Hall, Bristol

Copland’s blazing Fanfare for the Common Man leads us into our American-themed evening, introducing the fireworks of Bernstein’s Candide overture and the clapalong familiarity of Sousa’s Liberty Bell (which should gladden the hearts of Monty Python fans!) As the band – Bath’s professional orchestra, The Philharmonia – takes a breather, the choir will sing unaccompanied versions of Kern’s ever-popular Ol' Man River and Barber’s Agnus Dei (his own re-working of the beautiful adagio from his first string quartet). The first half ends with Constant Lambert’s Rio Grande. Heavily influenced by the jazz rhythms of Black American music, it features a flamboyant piano part, played by Steve Kings, our Assistant Music Director and accompanist.

The second half is devoted to songs from Porgy and Bess, for chorus, soloists and orchestra. Gershwin’s ‘American folk opera’ (as he called it), incorporates extensive use of jazz and blues idioms in its exploration of life on Catfish Row — a darker life than is implied by the well-known numbers: Summertime, I Got Plenty o’ Nuthin’ and It Ain’t Necessarily So.

Do join us for this evening of popular, accessible music.

Tickets £9 - £21 available from 0117 962 4991 or Colston Hall box office

Official Website: http://bristolchoral.co.uk/Performances/2008-2009/America.html