19 November programme - London Symphony Orchestra

Welcome News
A warm welcome to the Barbican for this evening’s LSO concert which
is dedicated to Maurice Murphy, the LSO’s extraordinary, and much
loved, Principal Trumpet from 1977–2007.
Tonight, LSO Principal Conductor Valery Gergiev returns to continue
his exploration of the music of fellow Russian Rodion Shchedrin.
We presented Piano Concerto No 5 in September in the LSO’s
season opening concert, and tonight we welcome Finnish pianist
Olli Mustonen to perform the Piano Concerto No 4 (‘Sharp Keys’).
In 2011 Gergiev turns to the music of two more of his countrymen,
Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. He begins a year-long Tchaikovsky
symphonies cycle with the LSO on 18 January, pairing these with
Shostakovich violin concertos performed by the young Armenian
violinist Sergey Khachatryan making his debut with the LSO, and with
Leonidas Kavakos, making a welcome return in March.
Tomorrow morning the LSO and Gergiev leave on tour to Japan for a
fortnight, where they will perform programmes of Mahler and Sibelius
in Tokyo, Osaka and a number of other cities. I hope you can join us
for the Orchestra’s return to the Barbican on 5 December when we
see a different side to Mahler.
Tonight’s concert features Mahler’s First Symphony – an appropriate
tribute to Maurice Murphy’s memorable performances with the LSO,
and to the great tradition of British brass playing which he championed.
Kathryn McDowell LSO Managing Director
2 Welcome & News
Donatella Flick Conducting Competition – 2010 winner
Congratulations to Clemens Schuldt, winner of the 2010 final of the
Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, held at the Barbican on
4 November. As a key part of his prize, 27-year-old German conductor
Clemens will become Assistant Conductor of the LSO for the next two
years. He was awarded the prize by HRH The Duke of Kent, Donatella
Flick and a distinguished international jury. In the final, he conducted
the LSO in Johann Strauss’s Overture to Die Fledermaus and Wagner’s
Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde.
www.conducting.org
LSO String Experience Scheme
Congratulations also to the 20 young string players who have been
selected from recent auditions to take part in the 2010/11 LSO
String Experience Scheme. The Scheme enables string students
from London music conservatoires to gain professional experience
by playing in rehearsals and concerts with the LSO. Participants are
treated as professional ‘extra’ players and are paid for their work in
line with LSO section players. We are very grateful to the Musicians
Benevolent Fund and to Charles and Pascale Clark for their generous
support of the Scheme.
lso.co.uk/stringexperience
Music’s better shared!
There’s never been a better time to bring all your friends to
an LSO concert. Groups of 10+ receive a 20% discount on
all tickets, plus a host of additional benefits.
Call the dedicated Group Booking line on 020 7382 7211,
visit lso.co.uk/groups or email groups@barbican.org.uk
The LSO is delighted to welcome the following groups tonight:
Gerrards Cross Community Association
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Mariinsky Theatre Trust
MAURICE
MURPHY
1935–2010
LSO Principal Trumpet: 1977–2007
A tribute by LSO Chairman
Lennox Mackenzie
Maurice Murphy was a truly extraordinary
and wonderful man who inspired us all.
He inspired us not only when he put his beloved trumpet to his lips
to create that pure, thrilling and golden sound that we all know and love;
but he inspired us also with his very inner being, displaying generosity
of spirit, care, and love to one and all. Maurice was in short a musical
giant, a loving family man, a true gem and everyone’s hero. He was
also extremely modest, often saying ‘I’m just another trumpet player –
I’ve been very lucky’. Well, I think everyone who has met Maurice has
been lucky, to have known this great, humble and special man.
Maurice was born in London, however, four years later war broke
out and the family returned to the North of England. There were
many brass bands in the area, so Maurice used to say it was just
‘natural’ that he took up the instrument, which he did when he
was six. He played with his Dad in the West Stanley Salvation Army
Band in County Durham, and by twelve he had won the All Britain
Cornet Championships.
Kathryn McDowell © Camilla Panufnik Maurice Murphy 3