Grieg: Suite from Holberg’s Time
Albinoni: Concerto in D minor with Althea Talbot Howard, soloist.
MacMillan: The World’s Ransoming
Beethoven: Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’
The Grieg Holberg suite is a delightful backward glance at a foregone period in music given that very individual touch that Grieg was so good at. This is followed by a challenging but remarkable piece in this concert – ‘The World’s Ransoming’ by James Macmillan. It is a piece for this time of year – being set around the Maundy Thursday story. Our soloist tonight – Althea – was very keen to do this unusual work for Cor Anglais, and then to return all conventional music lovers to the fold of popular pieces with the much loved and well known oboe concerto by the 18th Century master – Albinoni – in the second half. The concert comes to a close with another much loved work by Beethoven – Symphony No.3 – The Eroica.
Based in London, England, Althea Talbot-Howard – formerly known as Althea Ifeka – specialises as a concerto soloist and recitalist, presenting innovative recitals for oboe, oboe d’amore and cor anglais with either harpsichord or piano accompaniment. Since 1994 she has performed extensively as a soloist in the UK, Ireland, Australia and the United States of America. Her début CD – From Leipzig to London – was released on the Oboe Classics label in 2006, and in 2007 she won Third Prize in the Paris-Ville d’Avray International Oboe Competition. As a Cambridge University graduate and former Fulbright Scholar, Althea enjoys using her academic skills to develop adventurous concert programmes.
Ticket prices: £10 in advance (under 18s in full time education free when accompanied); £12 on the door.
