(From Birmingham)
The Birmingham Studio Augmented Orchestra
(Leader, Frank Cantrell)
Conducted by Joseph Lewis
In Gounod's Opera the Queen of Sheba is in love with the sculptor Adoniram. He is fashioning a great work of art, and in this air begs the gods to aid him in his work, to fire his soul and guide his hand.
Dinorah was a girl of the woods who thought herself deserted by her lover, and lost her senses and wandered about searching for him'.
So runs the old Breton story, but when Meyerbeer made an Opera out of it, he and his librettists made it, as a whole, quite insipid. However, they devised a very effective scene at the beginning of the Second Act, where Dinorah rambles through a wood of birches by moonlight, and sings this Shadow Song-Light shadow that pursues my steps.'
In a Suite, From the Bavarian Highlands, for chorus and Orchestra, Elgar recalled one of his holidays, and the two dances now to be played are orchestral adaptations made by the Composer himself. The music, dating from the earlier part of his career, very happily represents a side of his art which endeared him to a large public.
From Grieg's incidental music to Bjornson's drama, Sigurd Jorsaljar (Sigurd the Crusader), three pieces have been taken to form a Suite.
I. Introduction. We are in the Court of King Sigurd and King Eystein, sons of Harald, both of whom reigned in Norway at the same time, and were rivals. Here we have the atmosphere of royal pomp and festivity.
II. Intermezzo, Borghild's Dream. Borghild and Eystein were lovers. In order to show that she is innocent of a wicked accusation, she has been compelled to undergo the ordeal by fire-to walk over red-hot iron. She does so without taking any hurt. Later, she fears her lover is not true to her, and upon Sigurd's pleading, marries him, so ruining both her happiness and that of Eystein, who had remained faithful. In this scene she sleeps uneasily, and is tortured by doubt. Awaking, she cries, 'Still I am walking over red-hot iron,' and the music depicts her agitation.
III. Triumphal March. Sigurd, repentant, dedicates himself to the welfare of Norway. In this scene the two kings arc approaching, hand in hand, the place of law-giving, amid the loyal shouts of their people.
