Holland Park Sinfonia - Remembrance Day Concert

A concert for Remembrance Day, talking not of the tragedies that came of war, but remembering some beautiful works of art - created by people deeply affected by it, yet gave us such hopeful pieces of music, in a way, telling us, to not lose hope. To not give up even after such hard times.

At the heart of it is Vaughan Williams beautiful Fifth Symphony. Like a heartfelt prayer of peace premiered at the Proms in 1943, in the midst of the horrific times of the Second World War. Written by a Vaughan Williams who saw the horrors of the first war close up while serving in the army, driving an ambulance in the war torn fields.

Strauss’s Oboe Concerto - that most likely exists because an American soldier, John De Lancie asked Strauss after the US army invaded Strauss’ village at the end of the war, if he would ever write an oboe concerto.

Strauss, who spent a lot of his time struggling, forcing himself to work for the Third Reich so he could protect his daughter in law and her family, who were Jewish and under threat of being taken away. It will be performed by our virtuoso principal oboist, Sasha Puller.