This concert of contrasts opens with Gluck’s Overture and Dance of the Blessed Spirits from his opera Orfeo ed Euridice. Gluck was an older contemporary of Mozart and his Dance is one of the most moving and exquisite pieces in the repertoire.
Next comes Stephen Pratt’s re-imagining of pieces by the baroque composer Lully, who had total control over music at the court of King Louis XIV of France. It is a strange but well-known fact that he beat time with a long wooden stick – you will hear a reference to this in Stephen’s piece – and died from a severe infection after accidentally hitting his own foot with it.
Quite different is a contemporary piece Lyric for strings by George Walker. This is being played in tribute to the orchestra's much loved and missed violinist, Mark Julius, who died before his time.
Finally, Mozart’s Jupiter, one of the greatest of all symphonies and the composer’s last as it was written in 1788, some three years before his death. It is a profound and elegant piece with a bubbling Finale with which to conclude the concert.
NB: This concert takes place in the Great Hall at Liverpool Hope University Creative Campus, 17 Shaw Street, Liverpool L6 1HP.