College News

18 February 2004

Royal Holloway strikes a chord at St John's, Smith Square

Robert Max will be conducting the Royal Holloway, University of London Symphony Orchestra at the famous St John's, Smith Square on Saturday 6 March.

The varied programme will feature Smetana's Overture to 'The Bartered Bride', Janacek's Taras Bulba and Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B Minor.

Having a reputation as one of the finest and most active university orchestras in the country, the Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra takes a break from its extensive October to April season at the College's renowned Picture Gallery to perform three pieces in London. Acclaimed performances given by the ensemble since 1992 include among many others: the London premiere of Robert Simpson's Piano Concerto, Mahler's 'Kindertotenleider', Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 and the second British performance of Vagn Holboe's Cello Concerto.

Joining the orchestra for this particular concert will be award-winning cellist, Tim Hugh. Described by The Times as a 'musician with a compelling insight into the creative urge behind the notes', Tim Hugh will be accompanied by the orchestra on Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B Minor.

Conductor Robert Max is also well known internationally as a cellist and chamber musician. He has worked as a conductor with the likes of the Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra, the Arad Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists James Kirby, Sergei Dukachev, Ralph Kirschbaum and Erich Gruenberg. He has been the cellist for the Barbican Piano Trio for fourteen years performing over four continents in concert, for European and US radio and television as well as the BBC World Service and BBC Radio 3. Robert has also been invited by the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as a guest musician.

St. John's, Smith Square is regarded as one of London's major concert venues and a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture. It was restored to its former splendor in 1969 after being gutted during World War II. The church was originally designed by Thomas Archer and affectionately known as 'Queen Anne's Footstool' due to the monarch's expression that it should resemble one of her favourite pieces of furniture.

The venue has a very fine acoustic that accommodates almost every kind of musical performance, and performances of this kind help to raise funds for the upkeep and continual developments to the structure.

The concert takes place on Saturday 6 March and will start at 7.30pm
Tickets are available from the venue box office on 020 7222 1061
Priced £15, £10, £8 (£6 Concessions)

ENDS

For press information please contact the Press Office, Royal Holloway, University of London
Press Assistant Richard Freeman 01784 414471 press-assistant@rhul.ac.uk
Press & PR Officer Christine Long 01784 443967 christine.long@rhul.ac.uk
Assistant Press & Victoria Cousins 01784 414480 victoria.cousins@rhul.ac.uk
Communications Officer