“Name that film score” − Cambridge Philharmonic Society launches its season of 20th Century classics with some familiar tunes.

The Cambridge Philharmonic Society’s new season promises the best of 20th Century Classics, starting with Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring on Sunday 13th November at West Road Concert Hall.

The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps, was written by Igor Stravinsky in 1913. The premiere provoked a riot and The Rite was largely responsible for Stravinsky’s enduring reputation as a musical revolutionary, pushing the boundaries of musical design. In 1939, Walt Disney chose music from The Rite to include in his classic film Fantasia.

The Society welcomes back acclaimed Mezzo Soprano Heather Shipp as soloist for the second work on the programme for their opening night: Sergei Prokofiev’s film score for Eisenstein’s masterpiece, Alexander Nevsky. Described by the great Russian maestro, Valery Gergiev, as “the best music ever composed for the cinema”, the score has influenced countless movie soundtracks, from Sir William Walton’s Henry V to John Williams’ Jaws.

The Society will also be performing the ever-popular Polovtsian Dances from Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor (1890). Borodin left the score unfinished at his death and it was subsequently completed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov. In the twentieth century, the music was re-written again to become the musical Kismet, the hit of which, Stranger in Paradise, is at the heart of the Polovtsian Dances.

Tim Redmond, conductor, said: “I can’t think of a more exciting way to start the season than with this exhilarating mix of 20th Century Classics. At the Phil, we are keen to bring the best of live classical music to as many people as possible. Thanks to the enormous influence of film, the music of Prokofiev and Stravinsky is known to millions of people the world over. However, the sheer excitement and power of hearing 200 performers live on stage cannot be beaten − and we hope you can join us for this thrilling programme.”

Date: Sunday 13th November 2011
Time: 7:30pm
Place: West Road Concert Hall
Conductor: Timothy Redmond
Tickets: £10 £15 £20 (reserved) Online here or from the Corn Exchange Box Office.

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