2026

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60th year !!

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The next Hertfordshire Chamber Orchestra concerts:​​​​​​

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​​​Saturday 19 September 2026

St Nicholas Church, Harpenden

Sunday 20 September 2026

St Mary-at-Hill, Lovat Lane, London EC3

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​Fauré Masques et Bergamasques
Françaix Dances from "les Malheurs de Sophie" (for wind dectet)
Poulenc Organ concerto with Robert Mingay-Smith (*)
Ravel Le tombeau de Couperin
Poulenc Sinfonietta​

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conductor Alex Fryer

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A CONCERT OF 20TH CENTURY FRENCH MUSIC

 

Two pieces appeared in the aftermath of the First World War, two straddle the Second, a third reflects near the century's end.  All take cues from the 18th Century and play their role in the contrast between sobriety and pleasure notable across the arts in the last century.

 

Fauré's wistful divertissement inspired by commedia dell'arte characters was commissioned by the Prince of Monaco in 1919. That same year Ravel orchestrated his commemoration of a prominent forebear, giving a cheerful face to the sombre memory of a friend lost in the War behind each 18th century dance. More carefree are the dances in which Jean Françaix illustrates the escapades of miscreant Sophie at her parents' Second Empire chateau in 'la France profonde'.

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Of all French composers representing the bifurcation in 20th century music, Francis Poulenc is an exemplar: a devoutly religious hedonist plagued by manic depression. His baroque-influenced 1938 Organ concerto enshrines these conflicting passions, and his 1948 Sinfonia (a BBC commission) runs the gamut of emotions marking his and the century's life.

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​Tickets:

St Nicholas Church Harpenden

tbc

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St Mary-at-Hill EC3

tbc

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(*) Director of Music at St Mary-at-Hill

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