Dark and murky as it is, I do love January. A new diary with blank pages waiting for exciting things to be put in, a fresh resolve to try new things/eat better/exercise more - a new year, filled with such potential, even in the bleakest days of winter, to me has a real forward looking freshness.
And so far this year, we have been spoilt with fresh sounds in BBC Hoddinnott Hall. We have just spent a number of days recording for International Womans’ Day (8 March), recording works by female composers of the early Twentieth Century. This is a period that really interests me (both my Bachelors and Masters thesis were based on this area of research), and there can be no doubt that up until at least the mid-Twentieth Century, composition, and to a very slightly lesser extent, high standard and profile performance, were considered unnatural and unsuitable pursuits for the female. Unless of course it was in a drawing room and in the interests of snaring a suitor. That was to be encouraged.
I often wonder how many incredible works our lives will never be enriched by because of this, so it was, for me, very exciting to record works by Ethel Smyth and Florence B. Price. We were joined by BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Elena Urioste (violin) and Alex Frank-Gemmill, so really if the music making had been any fresher, our producers would have had to have foil packed it!
Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård introduces BBC NOW's Composer-in-Association B Tommy Andersson
Now we are preparing for our first Afternoon concert at BBC Hoddinott Hall of 2015, where we will be joined by our Composer-in-Association, B Tommy Andersson for a special concert curated by him. When we performed B Tommy’s ‘The Garden of Delights’ at our season opener (was that really only in October?!), I was very much taken by surprise at the audience reaction to his music. It is seldom that I have seen such immediate and positive response to a work of contemporary composition from an audience, and I cannot wait to get to know more of this music (book your tickets now for our composer portrait of B Tommy on 25th February).
B Tommy Andersson
For this concert, B Tommy has chosen four works from his native Sweden, by composers whose music he admires and/or whose compositional style and approach has influenced him. Of course, if you’ve had a little look at the season brochure, you will already have noted that B Tommy has not just chosen the works for this concert, but that he will also be taking the conductors’ podium for it too. We will play works by Hilding Rosenberg, Ingvar Lidholm (who played the viola - just thought I’d throw that titbit in there!), Norman Ludvig (who composed a great sonata for viola and piano) and Hugo Alvfén.
Interestingly, most of these composers at some point studied with, or were strongly influenced by Wilhelm Stenhammer, whose work we have performed in the past. For many of them, their music is characterised by a sense of romanticism, and often folk influences, whilst also being forward-looking, and using a modern musical language.
So, fresh sounds for a fresh new year from Hoddinott Hall. Make it your new year’s resolve to come see your national symphony orchestra live and in the flesh, either at our home in Cardiff Bay, at St David’s Hall, Cardiff (where we are Orchestra-in-Residence), the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, or any number of other venues around the country. Stay in touch via our website, on Facebook and Twitter. We really do hope to see you soon.
B Tommy Andersson conducts the Orchestra tomorrow (20 January) at BBC Hoddinott Hall. For tickets, call 0800 052 1812 or visit the Orchestra’s website. You can also catch up afterwards for 30 days via the BBC Radio 3 website.
On Wednesday 25 February, the Orchestra presents a Composer Portrait of B Tommy Andersson’s music. Visit the Orchestra’s website to find out more.
Discover more about the Orchestra's Scandinavian season by exploring their brochure online.
