This weekend, the Jacksonville Symphony will perform English composer Benjamin Britten’s “Sinfonia da Requiem” paired with fellow Englishman Edward Elgar’s Symphony No. 1. In between the two, the symphony will host British violinist Anthony Marwood to perform Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto.
To be held at Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts, the concert will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3.
“Sinfonia da Requiem” was written by Britten at the age of 27. In recent years, this work has emerged as one of the composer’s most powerful works full of orchestral color from beginning to end, according to the symphony.
Berg’s Violin Concerto is divided into two movements, each with two contrasting parts. The violin concert was the last work that Berg composed. He entitled the work, “to the memory of an angel.” The angel was Manon Gropius, the daughter of Alma Mahler (widow of Gustav Mahler) and architect Walter Gropius. He wrote the work in a short amount of time and still managed to create a work that enraptures audiences with its intense emotional capacity, said the symphony. Elgar’s Symphony No. 1 is the emotional and musical climax of the concert. The spectrum of Elgar’s symphony encompasses doubt, confidence, anger and joy; a complete emotional journey through music.
Marwood is a solo classical violinist, performing with acclaimed orchestras around the world. He was born in London and studied with Emanuel Hurwitz at the Royal Academy of Music, David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music and took lessons from Sándor Végh and Daniel Phillips at IMS Prussia Cove. He was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2006 and was the violinist of the Florestan Trio for 16 years. This year, Marwood was named Member of the British Empire (MBE), a British order of chivalry that rewards contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations and public service. He is co-artistic director of the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival in East Sussex and performs annually at the Yellow Barn Festival in Vermont.
Stephen Tavani will serve as concertmaster, and Courtney Lewis will serve as music director.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the ticket office at (904) 354-5547 or visit JaxSymphony.org.
