In June, Kew Sinfonia will be celebrating our 40th anniversary in style at our Shakespeare-themed midsummer concert.
Showcasing a variety of interpretations of Shakespeare’s works by different composers, our summer concert programme offers a thematic journey inspired by his comedies and tragedies. Light-hearted romance, comedy and fairy-tale imagery contrast with intense emotional drama, all brought together with performative readings by actors Mark Burghagen and Emma Longthorne.
Our concert opens with Berlioz’s charming and witty overture Béatrice et Bénédict. Taken from his opera based on Much Ado About Nothing, the overture highlights the playful sparring of the main characters.
Nikolai’s overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor is a vibrantly sparkling comedic work, its jovial, melodic midsummer tone perfectly capturing the humour of Falstaff’s antics.
The programme transitions to romance and tragedy in Norwegian composer Johan Svendsen’s 1876 Romeo and Juliet Fantasy tone poem - a passionate orchestral retelling of the star-crossed lovers' story.
Next comes Mendelssohn’s popular magical Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, which hardly needs any introduction! Transporting the audience into an enchanted, airy forest full of mischief, the overture is a masterpiece of early Romanticism that provides a direct musical interpretation of the play's ethereal and comedic elements.
But the drama doesn’t end there - the concert will finish with a celebratory bang as we perform possibly the most iconic classical composition of all time, Beethoven’s powerful and exciting Symphony No 5.
We look forward to welcoming you to join us for what promises to be a truly joyous occasion, celebrating Kew Sinfonia’s achievements over 40 years of wonderful music making.