Hail the King of Instruments!
Homage to the king of instruments! Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony is the grandest of his compositions and like all his works, it is suave and full of elegant Gallic melodies but also justly famous for its earth-trembling finale with solo concert organ, two pianists and huge orchestra. Josef Spacek, hailed internationally for his charismatic playing, brings his own unique touch to Max Bruch's other great work for violin and orchestra, the gloriously tuneful Scottish Fantasy, which uses folk themes as raw material from which to develop brilliant and exciting writing for the violin alternating with passages of tender and sometimes passionate expression.
Conductor Eivind Aadland
Violin Josef Spacek
Organ Christopher Wrench
Bruch Scottish Fantasy, op.46
Saint-Saëns Symphony No.3 'Organ'
Christopher Wrench
Queensland organist, Christopher Wrench, joins QSO for this symphony. Mr Wrench has toured internationally to Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy and Sweden. He has won numerous awards and in 2004 he gave solo recitals in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Germany and Denmark. Mr Wrench seeks to combine his work as performer and teacher with his passion for church music. He is currently Organist and Music Director at St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point. Mr Wrench describes the power of his instrument.
"In many ways the organ is an orchestra in itself. Just like the string, wind and brass sections of a symphony orchestra, the different divisions of the organ, the keyboards and the pedals (a keyboard for the feet), provide a variety of colours which the organist chooses to suit the style and dynamic of the music. These range from the spectacular, majestic sounds heard in
the last movement of the Saint-Saëns to the most delicate colours that are heard in the slow movement," Mr Wrench said.
As a graduate and part-time lecturer at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Mr Wrench is looking forward to performing again with QSO's Principal Guest Conductor, Eivind Aadland, in the QPAC Concert Hall.
Eivind Aadland
Internationally acclaimed conductor Eivind Aadland is one of Scandinavia's most respected conductors. He has been Music Director of the European Union Chamber Orchestra and Chief Conductor and Artistic Leader of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Aadland maintains regular relationships with many leading European Orchestras and this year he
joins QSO as Principal Guest Conductor for five highly anticipated concerts including Dancing Through the Ages on June 12, Beethoven 7 on 25 June, Tchaikovsky Symphony 4 on 10 November, Mahler 4 on 5 November, as well as The Organ Symphony. Maestro Aadland is looking forward to working with QSO. "I have wonderful memories from my previous visits to Brisbane, and I am really looking forward to developing my relationship with this fine orchestra," Maestro Aadland said.
Josef Špacek
At the age of just 23, Mr Špacek ranks among the foremost representatives of today's young violin generation and has won numerous national and international competitions. Mr Špacek has served as concertmaster of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra and the New York String Orchestra and performed with various ensembles throughout Europe, Asia and the United States. Mr Špacek graduated from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and was awarded the Fritz Kreisler Award, which is periodically given to especially outstanding violinists.
Mr Špacek also studied at the Prague Conservatory and is studying at the Julliard School. Mr Špacek is looking forward to performing with QSO. "I am very excited to be able to play with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra for the first time. I have never been to Australia, and I love travelling to new places. Meeting new people and new audiences, forming relationships with musicians and, most importantly, sharing wonderful music around the world is what makes these experiences so fantastic," Mr Špacek said.
Presented By Queensland Symphony Orchestra