University Symphony Orchestra

John Stringer conductor

Programme to include:
Poul Ruders Return of the Light
Sibelius Karelia Suite, op. 11
Franck Symphony in D minor

César Franck’s Symphony in D minor is the Belgian composer’s best-known orchestral work. Dedicated to his student Henri Duparc, the Symphony has an innovative cyclical form and attempts an ambitious fusion of French and German musical traditions. Despite receiving mixed reviews at its premiere at the Paris Conservatory in 1889, the Symphony later gained popularity among audiences and became a mainstay of the orchestral repertoire during the twentieth century (although the work has fallen out of fashion in recent decades). A subset of pieces from a larger body of music, Sibelius’ ever-popular Karelia Suite was one of the composer’s first major orchestral works. Named after the Karelia region of Finland, the Suite is deeply rooted in the region’s folk music and depicts stirring episodes from Finnish history. The programme also includes Grammy-nominated composer Poul Ruders’ 1994 orchestral work Return of the Light. Composed for a short silent film of the same name by the Danish film director Trine Vester, the piece includes sampled sounds – including a güiro and Chinese metal balls – created by the percussion virtuoso Gert Sørensen.