Matthew Krel Prize for Orchestral Excellence More than 100 young orchestral musicians applied to the 2011 prestigious award. Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy nominated the top 6 prize winners.
The announcement coincided with the transmission of a
television program "In Good Hands" shown by SBS1 on July 24th and twice on the STVDIO channel
SEE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOP TEN APPLICANTS AT THEPrize Website
Details of the 2012 Prize will be announced soon.
PLANNING FOR 2012
The SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra expects to manage a range of projects in 2012. These may span repertoire suited to Chamber and Full Symphony groups. In order to permit players to manage their study committments better, the Orchestra will permit players to apply for and, after acceptance, enrol in one or more of the programs on offer. Please see the Newsletter in the membership area of the website for full details.
Projects Planned for 2012 shown below. This information will be progressively updated.
#1, Chamber of Delights, T Tsai
Mozart Symphony No. 25, Ravel – Pavane, Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin, Beethoven Symphony No7
This fantastic programme covers three of the most important and inspiring genres for young players aspiring to become professional musicians. It covers wide range of emotion and styles with exciting parts and solos for all instrument groups A most exciting programme to be involved in!
#2, Newcastle Notes, G Gartner Beethoven–Overture from Egmont, Op.84 F.J.Haydn – Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major, Hob. I:105) Respighi – Gli Uccelli [The Birds] Copland-Music for the Movies (1942)
#3, At The Ball, S Thew Overture to Die Fledermaus, An der schönen, blauen Donau, Wiener Blut, Kaiser-walzer, Unter Donner und Blitz, Annen-Polka, Tritsch Tratsch Polka, Radetsky March, Frühlingstimmen, Ohne Sorgen
To this day the most popular events on the Viennese Social calendar are the annual Balls. Also the most watched concert in the world is the annual New Years Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic. The thing that all of these events have in common is dance music from Vienna’s golden age, that of the Strauss family.In June and July 2012 the SBS Youth Orchestra is offering the exciting opportunity to perform concerts featuring this music. This project will also include the recording of a CD. While recording a performance has become quite commonplace with advances in technology, it is still a rare and exciting opportunity to take part in a studio recording.During the project, participants will also be given insight into Viennese Art and Culture of the mid to late 19th Century and sessions giving insight into the development of music performed. Simon Thew, who has had a long-standing close relationship with this music and the playing traditions of the Vienna Philharmonic, will conduct the orchestra in this project.
#4, Television Plus, G Gartner
a.Stravinsky – A Soldiers Tale Suite (TBC TV rights in negotiation)The work is scored for an ensemble of clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin, bass, bassoon and percussion. All participants will be selected by audition. The trumpet part is regarded as difficult. This project is intended as one which will focus primarily on a television recording. It is a work of several short movements ideally suited to the development of short ‘fillers’ for television. The participants will be expected to attain the highest quality of performance. All participants will be selected by audition.(fee $50)
b.Milaud - La Création du MondeLa Création du Monde, Op. 81a, is a 20-minute-long ballet with music composed by Darius Milhaud, in 1922-1923. The work outlines the creation of the world, based on African folk mythology. On a trip to the United States in 1922, Darius Milhaud heard "authentic" jazz for the first time, on the streets of Harlem,which left a great impact on his musical outlook. Using some jazz movements, the following year, 1923, he finished composing La Création du Monde, which was cast as a ballet in six continuous dance scenes. All participants will be selected by audition.(fee $50)
#5, Mahler 1, C Watson Mahler famously said ‘a symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.’ Composed in 1887-88, his epic first symphony is an apt reflection of this statement. A vast composition nearing an hour in duration, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 features a large late romantic orchestra of approximately 100 players. Neglected for the earlier part of the twentieth century, maligned and misunderstood during his lifetime, Mahler both lamented and prophesised ‘My time will come.’ And come it has – this performance sees this monumental work return to the SBS Youth Orchestra after almost 10 years. The work in its original form comprised five movements and was originally referred to as a symphonic poem. One of the inner movements was discarded in a subsequent revision by the composer – this movement subtitled Blumine, was performed by the SBSYO during 2010. In its final form, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 has four movements. Following the opening movement is a laendler, an Austrian folk dance, the third movement, a minor key set of variations on the children’s song Frére Jacques before the final triumphal movement which famously calls for the entire horn section to stand up to conclude the work.Conducting this performance will be Carolyn Watson, who was invited to perform with musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 2010.
#6, Revolutions that Built Foundations, S Thew Mozart: Overture to the Marriage of Figaro Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Soloist: Joshua Clarke Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 EroicaA season that features Joshua Clarke, Principal Trumpet of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Ex member of the SBS Youth orchestra performing the ground breaking Trumpet Concerto by Josef Haydn. Also in this program the orchestra is offering you the opportunity to explore and perform 2 other revolutionary works: The overture to the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, the libretto for this opera that set the aristocracy on its head! and Beethoven’s sublime Eroica Symphony a work originally dedicated to Napoleon.All of these works are now cornerstones of the repertoire. The chance to perform them in one concert will be of great musical and educational value to those selected, a true highlight of your year.
#7, String Symphonies, G Gartner Dvorak: – Serenade for Strings Op.22 [] Shostakovich – Chamber Symphony No.5 for Strings in A flat major, Op.118a [26.30] I. Andante [5.04], II. Allegretto Furioso [4.55], III. Adagio [6.45], IV. Allegretto [9.30]This program is presented as one which is ideally suited to performance in small venues. It is planned to identify a number of venues so that players can gain a ‘touring’ experience in which they will need to adjust to variable acoustic environments.
#8, FATE (Hunters Hill), S Thew Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder, Soloist: Adele Johnston Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 5 in E minor.We are proud to welcome back, after a gap of 2 years, internationally acclaimed Soprano Adele Johnston, one of the stars of the Australian stage. Adele will join the SBS Youth orchestra in a performance of Richard Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder. In this, his last work, Strauss deals with a fate all face. This program also Features 2 other cornerstones of the orchestral repertoire by Tchaikovsky, the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy overture and the Symphony Number 5. These 2 works also deal with their own fates, that of Shakespeare’s immortal “star-crossed lovers” and Tchaikovsky’s own fate.
WATCH OUT FOR PROGRAMS ON SBS AND THE NEW PAYTV CHANNEL STVDIO
TELEVISION PROGRAMS
New SBSYO Wagner programme on SBS TV, 3pm Christmas Day!
"A Wagnerian Voyage" features unseen material from the Orchestra's 20th Anniversary Concert as well as the concert tour of Germany, conducted by Matthew Krel in 2008. There's also Simon Thew conducting Liebestod (audio from Hunters Hill, with vision from Sydney Town Hall and Parramatta).
SBS Youth Orchestra play an excerpt from the Prelude to Act 1 from Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. This is part of a 25 minute programme first broadcast on SBS 3pm on 25 December 2011 called "A Wagnerian Voyage". Images include the Orchestra's visit to Wagner's Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, the National Theatre Munich, & Neuschwanstein Castle.
