Salomon past concerts - 11 February 2003 at SJSS

Jeremy Silver Conductor

John Lenehan Piano

Dvorak, Dohnányi and Bartók

Dohnányi, Bartok (seated) and Kodaly ca. 1900

Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso

The dazzling Opus 66 of 1883 was completed when Dvorak was reaching the height of his symphonic powers. The great D Minor symphony (no.7) appeared 2 years later.

Dohnányi Variations on a Nursery Song

After a seemingly sinister, Wagnerian-sounding introduction the piano indicates that we are in lighter mood, introducing the theme for these variations, an C18th tune originally known in France as Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman. English-speaking children of all ages will instantly think of Jane Taylor's 1806 rhyme which was set to the tune in 1838 - or even as 'The Alphabet Song'. Dohnányi said he wrote the Variations 'for the enjoyment of fun-lovers and the annoyance of others'.

Click on the picture for a brief biography of pianist John Lenehan

Bartók Concerto for Orchestra

The Concerto for Orchestra, first performed on 1st December 1944 by Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony, is brilliantly orchestrated and considered by many as the epitomy of the genre. It is in fact made up of elements originally intended for a ballet. The famous episode in the 4th of the 5 movements represents 'rough, booted men' interrupting a serenade', and is apparently lampooning the repetitive overwhelming theme in the first movement of Shostakovich' Leningrad Symphony, or perhaps joining Shostakovich in poking fun at the original tune 'I'm off to Maxim's house' from Lehar's The Merry Widow. There is a school of thought that this tune is also the basis of 'Ain't Misbehavin' by Fats Waller. 

©Salomon Orchestra

2006

President Martyn Brabbins - Vice President Oliver Taylor - Registered Charity No. 256753