大象传媒

Live from Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon

Presented by Nicola Heywood Thomas

The 大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Francesco Angelico, plays music with an Italian flavour by Rossini, Mozart, Respighi, Verdi and Mendelssohn.

Rossini: The Barber of Seville - overture
Mozart: Deh vieni non tardar (The Marriage of Figaro)
Rossini: The Willow Song (Otello)
Respighi: The birds

8.20 During the interval, Nicola Heywood Thomas talks to tonight's soloist, Ruby Hughes, about her Welsh roots and her interest in Celtic folkmusic

8.40
Verdi: The force of destiny - overture
Mozart: E amore un ladroncello (Cosi fan tutte)
Mozart: Non ho colpa (Idomeneo)
Mendelssohn: Symphony no. 4 "Italian"

Ruby Hughes (soprano)
大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales
Francesco Angelico (conductor)

The young Italian conductor Francesco Angelico makes his debut with the orchestra in a firecracker of a programme. With two fiery overtures from the stalwarts of Italian opera - Rossini's comedy The Barber of Seville and Verdi's intensely dramatic La Forza del Destino. We also explore Italy as a tourist - through the music of German composer Mendelssohn who was inspired to write his fourth symphony whilst on holiday. It's an uplifting piece full of joyous melodies - as Mendelssohn himself described in a letter to his sister, it's "the jolliest piece I have ever done". Soprano Ruby Hughes makes her eagerly anticipated return to 大象传媒 NOW after her sublime performance at the Proms of Durufle's Requiem, praised by critics as "exquisitely poised and passionate".