Shostakovich & Strauss

Join Artistic Director Roy Theaker, internationally renown violinist Brigid Coleridge and Stonnington Symphony for a program featuring two of the greats - Dimitri Shostakovich and Richard Strauss.

In Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.99, haunting introspection meets defiant resilience. The solo violin navigates through intricate passages, intertwining with the orchestra's depth to convey a profound emotional journey, showcasing Shostakovich's mastery of both solo and orchestral textures.

Richard Strauss's Till Eulenspiegls Lustige Streiche ("Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks") is a witty musical narrative. With vivid orchestration and playful melodies, it portrays the exploits of the folkloric trickster Till, offering a thrilling journey through humour and adventure. Tod und Verklarung ("Death and Transfiguration") contrasts this humour with profound reflection. It delves into life's culmination with poignant melodies and powerful orchestral textures, showcasing Strauss's versatility in emotional storytelling.

Currently based in the United States Brigid Coleridge is a founding member of the award-winning Boston-based piano trio, the Merz Trio, with whom she has most recently been in professional residence at the New England Conservatory of Music. As a recitalist, Brigid has performed in Australia and internationally in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Jordan Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Purcell Room. Brigid holds a doctoral degree in music from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where she worked on Beethoven’s late Mass, the Missa Solemnis. In addition, Brigid holds an Artist Diploma and a Masters Degree in Performance from the Royal College of Music, London.

Artistic Director Roy Theaker has enjoyed a diverse and well-travelled career as Conductor, Music Director, Concertmaster and Violin soloist. He has lit up the stage from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall New York, and  London’s West End to Santory Hall Japan, in both the highbrow classical world and the commercial theatre, rock and pop industry. For a number of years he was a conductor on Walt Disney’s hit musical “The Lion King” in both the West End and later in Melbourne, and since 2013 has served as Artistic Director of Stonnington Symphony, performing with a host of Australian commercial artists such as Archie Roach, Lior, Ella Hooper, Patrice Tipoki, Dave Grainy, Rebecca Barnard, and Vika & Linda Bull, plus Classical names such as Siobhan Stagg, Caroline Almonte, Jacqueline Porter and Liane Keegan.

Program

SHOSTAKOVICH   Violin Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.99

STRAUSS R   Till Eulenspiegls Lustige Streiche, Op.28

STRAUSS R   Tod und Verklarung (Death and Transfiguration), Op.24

Conductor

Roy Theaker Artistic Director

Soloists

Brigid Coleridge (violin)