THE B.B.C. ORCHESTRA
(Section E)
(Led by MARIE WILSON )
Conducted by FRANK BRIDGE
FRANZ OSBORN (pianoforte) the E flat Symphony is the first of three composed by Mozart in the summer of 1878. The other two are the G minor and the 'Jupiter.' Mozart composed these three magnificent works in the amazingly short time of six weeks. He was only thirty-two, at the height of his extraordinary powers, and writing like an angel: not, however, that his gifts seem to have been very much good to him from a worldly point of view. He probably had less money at this time to play about with than at any time in his underpaid career. He was reduced to borrowing and pleading for loans. The ways of genius are inscrutable ; how it could have been possible for a man to turn out such wonderful work in such circumstances is beyond the powers of the lesser-gifted to conceive.
CESAR FRANCK is one of the few composers who have effectually achieved what many another has tried to do and failed. Professionally he was an orgamst and teacher, and a composer only during the few hours of leisure left over from his arduous duties. He composed because he could not help it, and not for any more mundane reason.
Happily, and contrary to all precedent
-Bach naturally excepted-his career as an organist is forgotten, and he lives in history as a composer of genius. Romain Rolland , the French critic, aptly expresses the strength of his influence thus : ' In the face of Wagnerian art, he unconsciously resuscitated the spirit of Bach, the infinitely rich and profound spirit of the past..... He founded a school of symphony and chamber music such as France had never possessed ; which was in some respects newer and more daring than that of the German symphonists.'
This work consists of a theme and four variations played without a break ; it is not written in a strain of extreme virtuosity, and there are no firework and bravura passages such as are to be found in the average concerto ; though, of course, none but a virtuoso can do the work justice. The main impression it gives is one of lucid romanticism and clear lyrical beauty. Overture, CarnivalDvorak
BORN in Brighton, in 1879, Fraxnk 'Bridge studied violin and composition at the Royal College, winning a scholar ship there at the age of twenty, and continuing his studies for four years under the late Sir Charles Stanford. He quickly achieved distinction as a viola player, and had the rare honour of taking part at one time in the old Joachim Quartet as deputy for Professor Wirth. Thoroughly at home in chamber music, whether as a performer or composer, he is regarded as among those who have done much to raise the position of present-day British music to the place of honour which it holds ; he is known, too, as the composer ot many fine songs.
His orchestral work leans to the pictorial and descriptive side of music, and most of his orchestral pieces have names which indicate the impression they would convey.
DVORAK'S ' Carnaval' Overture is not a prelude to an opera as are most overtures. It is the middle one of three concert overtures illustrating scenes of childhood, youth, and manhood. It was originally intended that all three should be played in succession to form a single symphonic work, but this overture is now always performed separately from the others.