Magicians of the Orchestra

    • 2:00PM, Sunday, May 20, 2012
    • The Bushell Hall
    • buy tickets

Revealing the Conductor’s Art

Lecture, masterclass, concert and live recording session including a performance of movements from Brahms, Serenade No.1 in D (arr. Boustead)

What do orchestral conductors do? Are they wizards with magic wands or overpaid time-keepers? How can we know if they are good, bad or indifferent? What musical techniques must they master? Is success down to personality or skill?

In a three-part exploration of the maestro’s craft, Kenneth Woods, principal guest conductor of the Stratford-based Orchestra of the Swan and founder of the Rose City International Conductor’s Workshop in the USA, discusses the work of some of the great conductors of the past, then puts a group of young conductors through their paces in a masterclass.

Afterwards, there will be a chance for several members of the audience to try conducting for themselves. The event will end with a performance of several movements from Brahms’ delightfully lyrical first Serenade.

This will be recorded live for a commercial CD, offering a fascinating opportunity for the public to glimpse behind the scenes of the professional musical world.

Tickets: £15, Under 21′s half-price
Box Office: 0151 651 3095 (during school office hours)
Major credit/debit cards will be accepted, although a fee of £2.00 per transaction will be charged

Tickets may also be purchased by cash or cheque on the door, but seats cannot be guaranteed in the event of a sell-out performance.

www.tworiversfestival.co.uk

Two Rivers Festival

Two Rivers Festival was created in 2008 by Andrew Thomson and Peter Davison to bring musical performers of international quality to Wirral. Since its inception the festival has gained a reputation for presenting informal concerts in the intimate setting of the Bushell Hall, attracting artists such as Martin Roscoe, Natalie Clein and Dame Emma Kirkby. The 2012 concerts take place at Birkenhead School by kind permission of the Headmaster.

Wirral is a place of passage, a gateway to the sea and the Celtic lands. It is a landscape located between two great rivers, the Mersey and the Dee, steeped in history and surrounded by many natural wonders. The Two Rivers Festival celebrates the arts in one of the least known, but attractive environments in Britain.

Click here to view the full Two Rivers Festival brochure

  • Kenneth Woods Conductor