University Chamber Orchestra

Nguyễn Lê Gia Toại piano Naomi Perera flute William Campbell organ John Stringer conductor

Sibelius Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, op. 46 Carl Filtsch Konzertstück in B minor for piano and orchestra Jake Adams Where we are now (World Premiere & Winner of the Terry Holmes Composer Award) Poulenc Organ Concerto in G minor

With its themes of forbidden love, mysticism and death, Maurice Maeterlinck’s play Pelléas et Mélisande tells the story of how the young and beautiful Mélisande falls in love with her husband’s brother, Pelléas, before dying of grief following the birth of her daughter and the death of Pelléas at the hands of her husband. Sibelius’ ever-popular incidental music for the play – later released as an orchestral suite by his publisher – masterfully conveys the full spectrum of emotions present in this key work in Symbolist theatre. Carl Filtsch fell ill while waiting to go on stage to give the premiere of his Konzertstück in Vienna during the winter of 1843-44. Often considered to be Chopin’s most talented pupil, Filtsch tragically died in Venice shortly thereafter at the age of just fourteen. The programme also includes the World Premiere of PhD student Jake Adams’ Where we are now, and final-year student William Campbell is the soloist in Poulenc’s iconic Baroque-influenced Organ Concerto.