NEWSLETTER - Winter 2007/2008 |
| Extracted from a recent Friends' mailing |
FUTURE PLANS for the NSO |
| It is always necessary for the orchestra’s committee to be planning far ahead: the Corn Exchange is already booked until November 2009 and the rehearsal schedule has been finalised for next season. The musical content is in the safe hands of the new Music Director, Alexander Walker, who has exciting ideas for both repertoire and soloists. The committee members were very impressed at the meeting last month when Alex attended for the first time and where he put forward his thoughts and ideas for programming. He has clearly taken on board the NSO’s policy of presenting really talented, young artists and he is keen to maintain the appeal of the repertoire, making it attractive and varied. Now the final touches are being made to the programming, the soloists’ bookings will be confirmed and all will then be complete for next season’s plans. Alex is very enthusiastic indeed about the NSO and, when asked for a quote for your newsletter, responded as follows: ‘It's been a great pleasure and privilege to get to know the orchestra and many of its Friends and supporters over the last year. The NSO is a very special orchestra. The commitment and motivation of its players, its impeccable organisation, the phenomenal contribution made by Friends and supporters, as well as its enthusiastic support base, make it unique. This is a tribute to the extraordinary work Jim has done over the last decade or so. Becoming Music Director is therefore both exciting and daunting and I am very much looking forward to leading the orchestra in the next stage of its development.’ |
BUY FROM AMAZON and help the NSO |
| Right at the end of last season, the NSO signed up to be an Amazon Associate. In case you don't know, Amazon is a very popular online shop which, although initially mainly a bookseller, sells all manner of things including electrical goods, CDs, DVDs and just about everything for home and garden. The prices are very competitive and delivery is free on orders over £15. If anyone visits the Amazon online shop by following a link from the NSO website and then makes a purchase, the cost to the buyer is no more but the NSO gets a percentage of the money spent. It's a great way to boost the orchestra's funds at no cost to you. So, what do you need to do? Go to www.nso-uk.co.uk - the NSO website - and then just click on any of the Amazon links you find there. This will take you to Amazon but tell them that you have been referred from the NSO site. You won't realise any difference at all but, if you then place an order, Amazon will pay some money to the orchestra. Already the NSO has received £400 from Amazon. As you can imagine, this income could increase greatly as more people know of the scheme, with every purchase helping the orchestra to balance its books without increasing its charges. Why not have a look at what is available for sale? |
NOVEMBER CONCERT sold out well in advance |
| It was ‘Returns Only’ for the NSO’s November event with all seats sold well in advance of the concert date. The music, chosen from his personal favourites by retiring conductor, James Stobart, was part of the attraction and, clearly, listeners wanted to hear the outstanding pianist, Sophia Rahman, making a return visit to play Rachmaninov’s very popular ‘Paganini Variations’. Sophia had arranged for some of her CD recordings to be available for purchase in the foyer at the concert. Sales were brisk, especially of a Shostakovich CD, with both audience and players keen to enjoy other performances by this excellent NSO soloist. |
BRITISH CONDUCTORSCan you work them out? |
| Sir A _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ Sir C _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _ Sir A _ _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _ Sir M _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ Sir T _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ _ Sir S _ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ Sir J _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Sir G _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ Sir N _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |
PRESIDENT ELECT for next season |
| Many of the Friends will remember the last President of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra, Stuart Hay, whose interest in and commitment to the orchestra, including the Friends’ Scheme, helped enormously with its progress and development. Since his untimely death a few years ago, the NSO committee has been keeping its eyes open for a suitable successor as well as realising that it was not an easy position to fill. At a recent committee meeting, while discussion was taking place about the future, it was agreed to appoint a new president from the start of the 2008-9 season - James Stobart. Of course, Jim is delighted to continue his association with the orchestra in this way when he steps down from the position of Music Director. |