Prague Manchester Concert
ByGreater Manchester is possibly more widely know for its contribution to Pop Music, bands like Oasis, Happy Mondays and New Order, as well as their more recent successors.
However, we do have an equally venerable classical tradition. The Hallé orchestra, established be a German emigré Charles Hallé, over 150 years ago, is the oldest professional orchestra in Europe, with Mark Elder at its helm, it continues to grow in reputation. Chatham school of music and the Royal Northern College of Music, RNCM, are world leaders in training the performers and composers of the future. We also hope that we will soon have a decision on the Royal Opera House establishing a centre in Manchester.
We will have the opportunity to hear from one of RNCM’s composition students Ewart Hodge. Ewart has composed a piece for solo viola, called ‘Sola’.
We are also very happy that Manchester born pianist Peter Donohoe, also a RNCM alumni, is here this evening. Peter Donohoe is one of the very few pianists who has been awarded the musical equivalent of an Olympic gold medal, the Tchaikovsky competition, which he won jointly in 1982. Peter’s profound understanding of music and artistry, has that very rare quality of making something you know well, sound fresh. We are very happy that Peter has made space for his home city, in what is a very busy schedule of concerts.
We are delighted that we are working together with the City of Prague for this evening’s concert. It is, ofcourse, the Czech Presidency of the European Union, but Prague also has a strong tradition and international reputation for its quartets. The Skampa Quartet is one of the Czech Republic’s leading quartets.
