Psychedelia of the classics

The first musical expedition into psychedelia was Leonard Bernstein's description of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, perhaps because of its hallucinatory and dreamlike nature and perhaps because at least part of it was thought to have been composed under the influence of opium.

Scored for over 90 instruments, Todmorden Orchestra will boast a larger than usual number of musicians for their concert on Saturday November 12 in the Town Hall at 7.30. (watch out for the new tam tam.)

It depicts the tale of the unrequited love of a young musician. Convinced his love is spurned, he dreams that he has killed her. There follows his march to the scaffold and his vision of himself in the midst of a hideous witches’ sabbath with groans, shouts and outbursts of laughter. Eventually the funeral knell tolls.

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Opening the concert is the well known “Night on a Bare Mountain” by Mussorgsky. Best known for the version featured in Disney’s Fantasia it is usually played using the re-orchestration by Rimsky-Korsakoff.

The orchestra will then be joined by Les Neish for the Tuba Concerto by Vaughan Williams.

A tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire and Salford University, Les has won several awards and gave the first solo tuba recital at the Bridgewater Hall.

The conductor will be Nicholas Concannon-Hodges and leader Andrew Rostron. Tickets are available on the door, from Jennifer Moorhouse on 01706 817333 or on the website.

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