CATHEDRAL DATE FOR CHESTER ORCHESTRA'S FIRST CONCERT OF 2025

One of Chester's leading orchestras is set to stage its first concert of the year in the historic surroundings of Chester Cathedral.

Chester Philharmonic Orchestra will stage the concert on Saturday 1^st March at 7.30pm. Continuing the orchestra's theme of Song and Dance for the 2024/25 season, the concert will feature Mahler's 'Symphony No.1' which incorporates several songs including 'Frere Jacques', Mozart's 'Flute Concerto No1' in G Major and Karprálová's 'Suita Rustica'. The Orchestra will be conducted by Jonathan Small. Joining the orchestra as guest soloist will be award winning flautist Stefano Cucullo.

Composed between late 1887 and March 1888,Mahler's 'Symphony No.1' incorporates music Mahler had composed for previous works. It was composed while Mahler was second conductor at the Leipzig Opera in Germany. The work was premièred at the Vigadó Concert Hall in Budapest, Hungary, in 1889.

The Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major, K. 313 was written by Mozart in 1778. Commissioned by the Dutch surgeon and amateur flutist Ferdinand Dejean in 1777, Mozart was supposed to provide four flute quartets and three flute concertos, yet he only completed two of the three concertos, this one being the first.

With the orchestra keen to showcase the work of female composers this year, the concert will feature 'Suita Rustica' by Czech composer Vitezslava Kaprálová. A child prodigy, she started composing at nine and at fifteen she entered the Brno Conservatory where she studied composition with Vilem Petrzelka and conducting with Zdenek Chalabala and Vilem Steinman. In 1937, Kaprálová conducted the Czech Philharmonic and a year later, the BBC Orchestra in her Military Sinfonietta, to much critical acclaim. Despite her untimely death in 1940, Kaprálová left behind an impressive body of work.

Joining Chester Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time as guest conductor, Jonathan Small is Senior Oboe Tutor at the Royal Northern College of Manchester (RNCM). Jonathan Small was principal oboist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) for many years and retired from the orchestra in May last year after an impressive 40 years. Jonathan has been guest conductor with many orchestras including the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra in Finland for a performance of Elgar's Enigma Variations in a highly successful concert in memory of his mentor and conducting tutor Frank Shipway. in 2008, Jonathan took over conducting the Wirral Symphony Orchestra.

Chester Philharmonic Orchestra is delighted to welcome the winner of the RLPO International Flute Competition 2024, Stefano Cucullo, who will perform the Mozart flute concerto No1. Stefano began studying the flute with Ivan Nardelli whilst at school and then continued his studies at the Stanislao Giacomantonio Conservatory of Music in Cosenza with Gianluigi Durando. After graduating, he followed the advanced course I Fiati at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He continued his professional studies at the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence and currently studies at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. Stefano is an experienced professional orchestral flautist and has been awarded the role of Principal Flute in a range of orchestras in his native Italy. In addition to his work as a soloist, Stefano also teaches flute and enjoys collaborating with a wide range of orchestras.

Speaking about the concert, Diana Anderson, Chair of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra said:

"We are delighted to welcome Jonathan Small to conduct a concert with Chester Philharmonic for the first time. Jonathan is a distinguished musician who has spent his career playing orchestral music as principal oboist with the RLPO and he brings his wealth of experience to this programme for our concert at Chester Cathedral. We are also thrilled to welcome rising young star Stefano Cucullo, the winner of the RLPO's International Flute Competition for 2024 as our guest soloist. It promises to be an evening not to be missed."

Full details of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra's March concert at Chester Cathedral can be found at: 

www.chestercathedral.com 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Tickets can also be booked in person at the Chester Cathedral Box Office.