Northern Chamber Orchestra continue successful Macclesfield season with Mozart’s Jupiter symphony
The Northern Chamber Orchestra, the North West’s longest-standing chamber orchestra, continues its 2022-23 season in Macclesfield, following a sell out opening concert in October.
The concert takes place on Saturday 5 November at The King’s School in Macclesfield, and sees the NCO play Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, ‘Jupiter’, Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto Op.31, and Aaron Copland’s Quiet City. The NCO’s principal clarinet, Elizabeth Jordan, features in the Finzi, and the concert is conducted by Jamie Philips, former Associate Conductor at the Hallé.
Jupiter was of course the Roman Empire’s king of the Gods, but it was Saloman, a London-based impresario, who gave Mozart’s last symphony its title. It is apt, since many regard the symphony as the pinnacle of his instrumental compositions. From its grand, arresting beginning to the contrapuntal tour de force of its ending, this is a symphony on a monumental scale.
Underpinned by rich and varied strings textures, sometimes impassioned, sometimes anguished, the clarinet soars freely and lyrically in the opening movement of Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto. Speaking about the piece, Elizabeth Jordan said, “I’m really looking forward to playing this piece in November as it’s so full of autumn colours and wistfulness”. Elizabeth studied as a Junior at the Royal College of Music and then at the Royal Northern College of Music, assisted by a Countess of Munster scholarship. Alongside playing principal guest clarinet with the NCO, she has pursued a busy freelance career involving solo performances, chamber music and orchestral playing including guest principal with the Halle, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and B.B.C. Philharmonic orchestras as well as opera and ballet work.
The NCO’s 2022-23 season, entitled “Orchestrating the Future”, is the first since the departure of Artistic Director and Leader Nicholas Ward, and sees a host of exciting conductors, directors and soloists, including cellist Guy Johnston, violinist Sophie Rosa, and oboist John Roberts taking to the stage.
Tickets for the 5 November concert are £25, with discounted tickets for under and free tickets for under 18s and students. Tickets are on sale on now from www.ncorch.co.uk, with season tickets and group discounts available.
