Royal Welsh College student’s work to be premiered at
St David’s Hall
On November 23 at St David’s Hall, the Royal
Welsh College Symphony Orchestra will be performing Masters
of Melody. As well as celebrating the timeless music of
Dvorak and Rachmaninov, with Leonid Gorokhov, one of the finest
cellists of his generation, there will be a world premiere of
Welsh/Swiss undergraduate composition student, Maja Palser’s
new work.
Spells Of Coming Forth By
Day was selected by RWCMD
conductor-in-residence David Jones, after he conducted it at
annual orchestral workshops during the summer.
David was so impressed by Maja’s highly
original, atmospheric and arresting sonic re-imagination of
Ancient Egyptian texts, which were designed to accompany the dead
on their journey to the afterlife, that he enthusiastically
proposed that, for the first time, an original student
composition should be included in the programme, to give the
public a chance to share in a unique visionary soundworld.
Maja was inspired by imagery from Ancient
Egyptian scrolls, and her short new composition has employed number
sequences and proportions from religious symbolism at the time of
the Pharaohs.
This concert offers the public a special
opportunity to celebrate the very best the college can achieve from
many perspectives.
As well as premiering Maja’s composition,
Masters of Melody offers two towering works that brilliantly
illustrate Dvorak and Rachmaninov ‘s seemingly effortless ability
to write wonderful tunes. The orchestra is joined by cellist Leonid
Gorokhov, for Dvorak’s glorious concerto, before immersing itself
in the rich harmonies and deep emotions of Rachmaninov’s best-loved
symphony.