OSJ PROMS

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, OXFORD

Wednesday, February 22nd 20127.30 p.m.

Alice Privett - SopranoJohn Lubbock - Conductor

Supported byMartin & Elise Smith and

Ian & Caroline Laing

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

BLACKWELLS Music

Minuetto No. 1 - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

O delle mie speranza from La Dorinda - Francesco Cavalli (1602-1676)

O thou, of all I hope for, mainstay, anchor and safety, O dearest pledge, surest bondof love unfailing, precious life that I hope for, thine are my fondest thoughts, thineare my sweetest fancies; O love for whom I tremble, all unscathed from the war, Iyet see thee safe returning.

We would like to play the whole of the first half as an uninrterupted sequence.

Minuetto No. 3 - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Sei to m’ami - Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736)

If thou lov'st me,and sighest ever but for me, O gentle swain, sweet I find lovingfavour, pitiful I find thy pain. Should'st thou think tho' that demurely I on thee alonemay smile. Simple shepherd thou art surely prone thy sense to beguile.As a fair redrose, a lover fain might sylvia choose today, happy if he thorns discover tistomorrow thrown away. All men say of maiden folly finds no favour in mine eyes,nor because I love the lilly shall I other flowers despise.

Crisantemi - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Er, der Herrlichste von Allen from Frauen liebe und lebenRobert Schumann (1810-1856)

Since have seen himI believe myself blind,where ever I gaze,I see him alone.as in waking dreamshis image floats before me,emerges from deepest darkness,brighter in ascent.All else is dark and colorlesseverywhere around me,for the games of my sisters

1

I no longer yearn,I would rather weep,silently in my little chamber,since I have seen him,I believe myself to be blind.

2

Traumerie - Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

L’amour de Peroutcha from Harawi - Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)

––––––––––– INTERVAL ––––––––––

Ave Maria from Othello - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

AVE Maria, blest among women, by God Almighty chosen, most full of graceart thou. May blessed be thine offspring. Oh Mary Mother, the Son of God,

Christ Jesus, our Lord. Pray for her who kneels in prayer before thee, for her, thesinner pray, as for the sinless; unto those that are oppressed or afflicted all showthem mercy, mother undefiled. Pray thou for her who in anguish kneeling beforethee, for thy mercy doth implore thee; pray for us, pray ever, Holy Mary, and inthe hour of dying. Amen.

Verdi String Quartet arranged for string orchestra

1. Allegro 2. Andantino 3. Prestissimo4. Scherzo Fuga. Allegro assai mosso

VERDI'S production of Aida in early March, 1873 was delayed due to thesudden illness of soprano Teresa Stolz.Verdi focused his time in Naples on the

writing of his first chamber work, String Quartet in E minor.The work waspremiered two days after the opening of Aida during an informal recital at hishotel on April 1, 1873.The names of the original performers survive only asPinto brothers, violins, Salvadore, viola, and Giarritiello, cello.Verdi commentedon the work, saying "I've written a Quartet in my leisure moments in Naples. Ihad it performed one evening in my house, without attaching the leastimportance to it and without inviting anyone in particular. Only the seven oreight persons who usually come to visit me were present. I don't know whetherthe Quartet is beautiful or ugly, but I do know that it's a Quartet!" Despite Verdi'shumble words concerning the piece, his String Quartet in E minor is valuedamong the great classical chamber works of the 19th century. It also exists in aversion for string orchestra, which we are performing tonight.

Alice Privett Soprano

ALICE ROSE PRIVETT studied with Professor Susan McCulloch at theGuildhall School of Music and Drama, and graduated in 2011 with a First

Class Honours degree and the the Concert Recital Diploma. Oratorio workincludes Handel's Messiah at St Martin in the Fields, Mozart's Requiem,Vivaldi’sGloria and the Brahms Requiem. Operatic roles include Poppea L'Incoronazionedi Poppea (Longborough Festival Opera),Venus (Venus and Adonis), Donna ElviraDon Giovanni (The Complete Singer) Serpina La Serva Padrona (self produced),Belinda Dido and Anaeus (Ad Parnassum,Venice), and First Bridesmaid/cover ofSusanna Nozze di Figaro (BYO). Scenes include Adina L'Elisir d'amore, FrasquitaCarmen and Susanna Nozze di Figaro (GSMD Opera Associates).

During her undergraduate course at the GSMD she has had the benefit ofworking with Elijah Moshinsky, Sarah Walker, Eugene Asti at the Wigmore Halland Iain Burnside (in the recent premiere of his play Unknown Doors in theBarbican Pit Theatre). She has also participated in masterclasses with RudolphPiernay in Salzburg,Thomas Kiesgen and Edith Wiens at GSMD and JoanDornemann as part of the IVAI programme in Tel Aviv (associated with theMetropolitan Opera). Alice is a keen recitalist, and last year took part inperformances of Wolf’s Italianisches Liederbuch at GSMD and Messiaen’scomplete songs at The Forge in London, for which she was awarded the TraceyChadwell Memorial Prize for work in contemporary song. In competition she haswon the first prize in the Susan Longfield Award (2011) and in the RoyalOverseas League (2011) with the ensemble ‘Cries of London’. She is currentlystudying on the preparatory-opera course at the Royal Academy of Music underthe tutelage of Lillian Watson, where she is generously supported by the WinifredDisney and Jennifer Vyvyan Awards, and next year will continue to study on theRAM opera course. Upcoming roles this year include Despina (HampsteadGarden Opera), Papagena/ cover of Pamina (Longborough Festival Opera) andPamina (The Complete Singer).

3

John Lubbock Artistic Director and Conductor

JOHN Lubbock is well known as the founder and conductor of the Orchestra ofSt John’s. He began his musical life as a chorister at St George’s Chapel

Windsor Castle and later, having studied singing at the Royal Academy of Music,went on to sing with the John Alldis choir, was a founder member of the LondonSymphony Chorus and was a member of the Swingle Singers.

John founded his orchestra in 10967, whilst still a student at the Royal Academyof Music, with the aim of building an orchestra that would serve the communityand not just be part of the ‘music scene’..The community bias has been the maindrive behind his tireless enthusiasm and life long commitment to making thehighest quality music making available to those who might otherwise have hadlittle or no musical experience. He has single-handedly gathered around him agroup of distinguished musicians who are not only outstanding performers butwho share his ethos of bringing music to people of all ages and from all walks oflife.

Besides the orchestra’s public concerts John and his players give around 50concerts a year to autistic children and others with learning difficulties throughhis charity ‘Music for Autism’.They have also, over the last three years developeda series of concerts for people with Dementia. Since the birth of his autistic sonhe has become very involved in the world of music and disabled children. Apartfrom Music for Autism he is a founder trustee of the Thomley Hall Centre forchildren with all special needs where Music for Autism has provided and equippeda music building. He is a trustee of the Music of Life Foundation which enablesgifted but disabled musicians to access music making of the highest calibre andsome of the children have performed with the OSJ and OSJ Voices. He is also avice patron the Clear Sky Foundation which provides play therapy foremotionally damaged children and with whom the members of OSJ will beparticipating sponsored by Music for Autism

In 1999 John received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music.

4

GROW A VIOLINIn order to offset people’s carbon footprint in getting to

this concert we are initiating a Grow a Violin project.We ask that you all put £1 in a bucket as you leave

this concert with which we will buy a tree and have it planted in the OSJ copse outside Oxford.

Our wood on the Wittenham estate is growing very well.

OSJ BoardPETER COUSINS ChairmanROB DIXONGORDON MOULTRIEANDREW MOORFIELD

KAREN GADDWILF EATONDAVID MCLAREN

Oxford Development CouncilLORD MOSER ChairmanDAVID BARNETTCAROLINE LAINGJOHN SIMMONS

MARTINE BENOITAMANDA ROWSEROB DIXON

OSJ RANDALL SHANNON Planning Director

ESTHER JACKSON Box Office and Front of House Manager

LAURA ASHBY Concert Manager

CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL Orchestral Manager

LEE STEPHENSON Librarian

KAREN GADD Sponsorship Consultant

NICKY PRENTIS Marketing Consultant

ELLEN O’DONNELL Accountant

DANIEL LUBBOCK Orchestral Assistant

OSJ VoicesJEREMY JACKMAN Chorus Master

MIRIAM POWER Administrator

ELAINE HOWELL Librarian

5

OSJ Proms at the AshmoleanWednesday 14 March 2012

at 7.30 pmAshmolean Museum, Oxford

Grieg Elegaic MelodiesGrieg Movements from Peer Gynt

Debussy Arriettes OublieesDebussy Dances Sacree et Profane

Grieg Holberg Suite

A programme of sacred music for Good Friday

Friday 6 April 2012 at 6.00 pmDorchester AbbeyOSJ Ashmolean Voices

Easter ConcertSaturday 7 April 2012 at Oxford Town Hall

Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Benedictus and Agnus DeiHandel Part III Messiah

Tickets at www.osj.org.uk or 0845 6801962 and at Blackwells Music

23-25 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AX Tel: 01865 333586

6

7

Founding PatronsMr John ArmitageMr and Mrs David BarnettMr Nigel HamwayMr Charles HendersonMr and Mrs Llewelyn-JonesMr David McLarenMr Andrew MoorfieldCharlotte WayFaith Marchel

Corporate SupportersBird-Moore PartnershipCitiCPMDeutsche PostbankLloyds-TSBRichardsons

Principal Chair SupportersWilf and Liz Eaton (cello)Mr and Mrs J Taylor (viola)Peter Bennett-Jones (violin)

FriendsRobert BoasBoshers (Cholsey) LtdMrs Diana BiddlestoneMr M J BoxfordMr J DrysdaleMartin and Elise SmithBarbara East

Trusts and FoundationThe PF Charitable TrustThe Greys Charitable TrustThe Tolkien TrustThe Sandra Charitable Trust

These concerts are supported by

Orchestra of St John’s SupportersBenefactor: Toby Blackwell

Patron: Music in the Abbey; Rick Rowse

The Orchestra of St. John’s is committed to engaging proactively with itsaudiences.We would genuinely like to hear your comments and suggestions onany aspects of our performance and presentation.

Do let us know if there are projects and programmes you would like to seehappening at the Orchestra of St John’s in the future.

Contact us today at orchestra@osj.org.uk