Viva Brighton Issue #65 July 2018

CLASSICAL MUSIC
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A celebration of Puccini
Conductor Mark Andrew James
How long has the Sussex Symphony Orchestra
been going? We started up 25 years ago
when we realised the region needed a superb orchestra
which was representative of all the talent
we have in the area. We’ve performed hundreds
of concerts over the years… In 1995 we did no
fewer than 14. It’s settled down to six or seven a
year, now. We’ve worked with some marvellous
performers in that time, from Lesley Garret to
Aled Jones. Nigel Kennedy is our Orchestra
President. He’s got local connections… his mum
lives in Fulking.
Why are you putting on a Giacomo Puccini
celebration? We’re very loyal to our audiences,
and we’ve had a lot of requests to return to Puccini.
He’s extremely popular, extremely accessible,
and a wonderful composer. He speaks to people.
He can make you go through all the emotions.
He takes you in, he winds you up, he lets you go.
And quite a character… Yes, a women’s man,
who liked cigars, and fast cars. He was nearly
killed in a car crash, but it was the cigars that
finished him off.
And I understand he’s going to be on the
stage… One element of the evening is that we’ve
got the actor Richard Hawley playing Puccini
and addressing the audience. It’s quite a departure
for Richard… you’d be more likely to see him in
Coronation Street.
I guess you’ll do a lot of the popular stuff…
We’re actually starting with an aria from Le Villi,
his first work, which doesn’t get performed that
often nowadays. But of course we’ll be performing
pieces from ‘the big four’: La Bohème, Tosca,
Madama Butterfly and Turandot. Turandot has to
be my favourite. I was privileged enough to see
it performed at the Met, conducted by James
Levine. I can still see it like it was yesterday.
It was jaw-dropping. Completely and utterly
marvellous.
Is Puccini difficult to stage? Well Madama
Butterfly is set in Japan, and Turandot in China,
but we’re going to be setting the scene with
clever lighting, and a lot of different costumes.
The singers will be doing a lot of quick changes
behind the scenes.
You’ve played in Brighton Dome before…
Indeed, and it’s much improved as a venue since
its refurbishment. At one point we’re going to
have bells ringing from all four corners of the
hall, it’s going to be stupendous. The most difficult
thing about the Dome is its size… there are
1,628 seats to fill. We’re working on that…
And it’s all in a good cause… We
raise a lot of money for charity,
and this year it’s Cancer Research
UK. There aren’t many people who
haven’t been touched by the disease
in their lives.
What’s your personal favourite
Puccini piece? He was all
about heart-rending arias,
rather than big choruses,
and my favourite is
Doretta’s Dream from La
Rondine. Oh my God, it’s
sublimely beautiful. If
you haven’t heard it, get
onto YouTube straight
away. Alex Leith
Brighton Dome, 6pm,
15th July
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