Celebrating Bard with music

Todmorden Orchestra's new concert lighting shed light on parts of its decoration not normally seen at concerts, and on thye players' scores

The comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor was used as the basis for an opera by Carl Otto Nicolai and its rousing overture will open the evening.

The intermezzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the famous Wedding March and is probably the most popular single piece of music written by Mendelssohn.

Brahms Violin Concerto is one of the big four German violin concerti and the raw and rugged sound of the outer movements contrasts with an intimate middle movement adagio of exquisite and silky beauty.

Joining the orchestra to play this great work inspired by and dedicated to the composer’s great friend Joseph Joachim, is the violinist Ren Jian.

Having spent some years studying in Manchester, Jian moved onto the RCM where he graduated with a first class honours.

The concert also includes Elgar’s Enigma Variation, altogether a colourful work of differing moods and symbolism with which to conclude the night.

The event will be conducted by Nicholas Concannon Hodges with leader Andrew Rostron.

lTickets are on sale at the door and are also available from Jennifer Moorhouse on 01706 817333 or at Todmorden Information Centre at £10, concessions £8 and accompanied children £1.