(Section C)
(Led by LAURANCE TURNER )
Conducted by JOHN ANSELL
SOPHIE ROWLANDS (soprano)
Although the Overture, ' Poet and Peasant', is easily the first favourite of the few works of Suppé's, which are now heard, ' Pique Dame ' must be a very good second. He was one of the many musicians whose great gifts appeared at an early age, and who had to overcome some opposition before he was allowed to take up music in earnest. He spent a busy life as conductor and composer, and one authority reports that he left no fewer than two Grand Operas and 165 stage pieces of less serious dimensions, as well as at least two big works for the Church.
Paul Lacome - not to be confused with Paul Lacombe , who was a pianist much more highbrow, and a year older -was born in 1838 and died in 1920. He composed a great deal, mostly songs -about two hundred-and light operas. This suite describes a Fair. The first number,' The Bulls ', refers, of course, to bull-fighting. The second is the name of the metal screen fixed in front of every Spanish window, through which lovers do their courting, and the third is ' The Comedy ', or in this case the Fair-booth.
SOPHIE ROWLANDS and ORCHESTRA
In this aria from Cavalleria Rusticana Santuzza is addressing not her own mother, but the mother of her fickle lover Turiddu, who has betrayed her to return to his old sweetheart Lola, now the wife of Alfio. Therein lies the tragedy of the opera.
Micaela's Song occurs in the third act of Carmen after Don Jose ' has been beguiled by Carmen into joining the wild band of gypsy smugglers. Micaela, his youthful sweetheart, has heard of his whereabouts, and has come to the smuggler's hiding-place among the hills in search of him. Alone and not knowing what dangers there may be for her if she is found by the wild gypsies, she summons all her courage to her aid, beginning her song, ' I said that nought would affright me '.
ORCHESTRA
Henry Hadley , an American conductor and composer born in 1871, is a leading musical figure in the United States. He has written operas, symphonies, and a number of tone poems, while as a conductor he has appeared with most of the big orchestras in America, and as guest-conductor in Europe.