Conductor: George Vass | Soloist: Nicholas Daniel - Oboe

RESPIGHI The Birds

STRAUSS Oboe Concerto in D major, TrV. 292

BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

Anyone who remembers the TV programme Going for a Song will certainly recognise parts of the five-movement suite The Birds by Ottorino Respighi which opens the concert. It may come as a surprise to know that this is a 20^th century piece written in 1928 but it is based on music from the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Listen out for the bird song!

Soloist, renowned international oboist, conductor and teacher, Nicholas Daniel won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition in 1980 at the age of 18. He has forged a very busy career since then, and we're delighted to welcome him back for his seventh performance with the RTWSO. This time he will be playing the concerto by Richard Strauss, another 20^th century work that looks back to an earlier time.

The concert ends with Symphony No. 2 by Johannes Brahms. Composed over just one summer, a stark contrast to his first symphony which he worked on for twenty years, this work bears some similarity in mood to Beethoven's Symphony No 6, being carefree, pastoral and melodic.

This is proudly presented by Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra as part of their 2023 - 2024 Season. Click here to view the whole season!