String Portraits
Grieg: Holberg Suite
Delius: Two Aquarelles
Britten: Two portraits
Grace Williams: Sea Sketches
López-Chávarri: Acuarelas Valencianas
Corona Strings
Conductor, Janet Lincé; Leader, Catherine Leech
https://www.sje-oxford.org/event/corona-...

City-based Corona Strings are collaborating with Oxford Art Society, who will be exhibiting paintings to enhance their concert programme of art-inspired music by British, Norwegian and Spanish composers.

Edvard Grieg’s neoclassical suite From Holberg's Time is based on contrasting eighteenth-century dance forms and was written in 1884 in memory of the Norwegian writer Ludvig, Baron Holberg. Originally composed for the piano, the piece was quickly adapted by the composer for string orchestra and has become one of his most popular works.

Grieg had a strong influence on the young Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius and his Two Aquarelles (or Watercolours) are adaptations of Two unaccompanied Part Songs entitled ‘To be sung of a summer night on the water’, arranged for string orchestra by the composer’s amanuensis, Eric Fenby.

Benjamin Britten’s early Portraits for String Orchestra of 1930 were originally planned as three depictions of colleagues, the second inscribed 'E. B. B.’, being a self-portrait and featuring Britten’s own string instrument, the viola.

Grace Williams, who studied with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gordon Jacob at the Royal College of Music composed her Sea Sketches in 1944 and the work suggests the moods of the sea off her native Wales, in movements entitled High Wind, Sailing Song, Channel Sirens, Breakers and Calm Sea in Summer.

The Spanish composer and centenarian, Eduardo López-Chávarri’s most well-regarded orchestral work is Acuarelas Valencianas or Valencian Watercolours written in the 1920s. The three movements, evocatively entitled Song, Summer and Dance, are full of the colour and vivacity of the composer’s native Valencia.

Founded in 2012, Corona Strings have established a reputation for dynamic sound and sensitive playing. The orchestra is formed from a fine pool of professional players in Oxfordshire and beyond and its repertoire ranges from the Romantic ‘greats’ to music of the 20th century as well as exciting contemporary works.

“I have long been enthralled by the fascinating relationship between the principal art forms and I am thrilled that members of Oxford Art Society have agreed to display some paintings relevant to this concert’s theme at the event itself”, said Conductor, Janet Lincé. “Look out for anything from seascapes to portraits!”

St John’s Church, Iffley Road, Oxford provides a warm and comfortable venue with a superb acoustic.