(From Birmingham)
THE MIDLAND STRING ORCHESTRA
Conducted by FRANK CANTELL
BARRINGTON HOOPER (Tenor)
EDA KERSEY (Violin)
MOZART'S opera Idomenco, composed in 1780, when he was twenty-four, has never had the success of some of his other works. But it contains several pieces which have always been popular and it has a complete ballet. This has been arranged as a Suite, to be played consecutively.
The first movement is a Chaconne, an old-fashioned, rather stately, dance in triple time, for which the music usually consisted of a short theme with variations.
Mozart has not adhered strictly to the form, although the variations can be clearly heard.
The second movement is a quite short, slow one. It begins with eight bars of solo, introducing the dance, which is also a solo. The tune is typical of Mozart's melodious grace.
A Gavotte follows, simple and straightforward and in the usual form, and the Suite is closed by a return of the Chaconne from the beginning, the same theme, but with different variations.
SARASATE was an outstanding figure in the concert world of the last generation. A Spaniard by birth, he was known all over the world as a brilliant executant on whom many honours and distinctions wcro conferred. Ho was the fortunate possessor of more that one Stradivarius violin, one of which was given to him by the then Queen of Spain, while he was still a mere boy. Many of his showy solo pieces and arrangements of gipsy airs are still popular with violinists, and this brilliant dance has always been a favourite.