Kew Sinfonia are pleased to present our autumn concert on 24 October in which Beethoven’s famous classics, the Coriolan Overture and 7th Symphony, are paired with 20th Century British composer Ruth Gipps' Horn Concerto and Wind Sinfonietta.
Despite being a contemporary of avant-garde composers, Ruth Gipps remained an unyieldingly committed romanticist whose works are lyrical and pastoral, similar in style to those of her teacher Vaughan-Williams and composer Arthur Bliss. Composed for her son, Gipps’ Horn Concerto is a celebrated masterpiece which demands a formidable technique and skill from the soloist. We are delighted to welcome horn player Joseph Longstaff to perform this work with us. Joseph played with the National Youth Orchestra and was Brass Finalist in the 2020 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, and this promises to be an exciting showcase for his talents.
We round off this concert with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No 7. Described by Beethoven as “one of my best works” and famed for its powerfully energetic, driving rhythms and haunting, hypnotic Allegretto, this work was both unique and unusual for its time and remains enduringly popular.