Ulster Orchestra's May 2025 Concert Series: A Symphony of Drama and Masterful Compositions
This May, the Ulster Orchestra presents a series of captivating concerts at Belfast's iconic venues, showcasing music from some of the greatest composers in history. From Strauss's and Mozart’s operatic dramas to Hans Zimmer's and John Williams's epic film scores, and Tchaikovsky's and Shostakovich's orchestral masterpieces, each performance promises unforgettable experiences that bridge the worlds of opera, ballet, and cinema. Join us as we delve into these timeless works, guided by talented conductors and musicians who bring these pieces to life.
This concert shines a spotlight on music filled with sumptuous drama. Strauss’s incidental music for Ariadne auf Naxos gives more than a flavour of its protagonists flitting across the opera stage. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.24 just pre-dates Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro and it too brings all the poise and characterful drama of opera to the concert stage. Our second half moves from the world of opera to ballet, as Tchaikovsky finished his Third Symphony before writing Swan Lake and this work pirouettes with the kinetic energy of the corps de ballet.
Hans Zimmer and John Williams are two of the greatest film music composers of all time, creating epic scores for some of the most iconic films ever made. Experience this incredible symphonic celebration of music from blockbusters such as Gladiator, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Superman, Batman Begins and of course Harry Potter and re-live your memories of hearing and seeing it for the first time.
Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff are three giants of Russian music, and this concert foregrounds all their exceptional talents. Arensky uses one of Tchaikovsky’s Sixteen Children’s Songs to capture a range of moods and character, while Stravinsky’s Concerto for Violin is a feisty, joyful romp for the instrument, full of cheerful melody and musical wit. To close, a second visit to the no-holds-barred emotional world of Rachmaninoff’s symphonies (though you’ll have to wait until 2025/26 for Symphony No.3!) and the achingly beautiful, flamboyantly majestic Second.
Was it, or wasn’t it, an act of defiance and bitter retort to Stalin’s displeasure? Shostakovich’s life was so utterly and constantly in peril that he could never publicly declare whether his Fifth Symphony was simply ‘a Soviet artist’s reply to just criticism’ or a satirical puncturing of the dictator, deliberately hollow but dressed as adulation. But either way, it’s a phenomenal piece of music – playful, poignant and magisterial, it’s a blockbuster end to the Season. Walton’s lyrically romantic Cello Concerto sets the scene for Shostakovich’s dramatic fireworks.
The Ulster Orchestra's May concert series is a remarkable journey through the vast landscapes of classical and film music. With each performance, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the stories and emotions that these compositions convey. The artistry of the musicians and the timeless appeal of the works they perform ensure that these concerts will be memorable highlights of the cultural year. Whether you're a seasoned classical music lover or new to the genre, these events are not to be missed, offering something truly special for every listener.
Share
