Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra (KPO) will perform Gustav Mahler’s colossal Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’, on Sunday, 17 March 2024, at The Concourse in Chatswood.
The Orchestra, now in its 53rd year, rehearses weekly at Abbotsleigh and performs at St Ives Uniting Church and East Linfield Community Hall, as well as The Concourse for its three major concerts each year. It is full of local musicians of all ages! The KPO performs with outstanding Australian artists and nurtures up-and-coming local musicians and composers.
With KPO’s Artistic Director Paul Terracini conducting more than 90 musicians, the concert will also feature the massed voices of the Willoughby Symphony Choir and Opera Australia soloists Imogen-Faith Malfitano and Celeste Haworth. “Around 200 performers in all… The Resurrection is massive!” says Paul.
The KPO has a huge brass section packed with colourful characters – such as Lane
Cove’s very own Sarah Hobson.
Sarah Hobson
Sarah Hobson grew up on the Isle of Man in the sleepy fishing village of Port Erin in the south. Her parents, John and Sue Bowring, are well known in the Manx Community through theatre and music scenes.
Music and theatre have always played an enormous part in Sarah’s life.
Her family performed in the Manx Music Festival / Manx Operatic and Choral Union Societies productions.
In her formative years, Sarah’s high point was the whole family performing in Oliver, a production held in the Erin Arts Centre with the Phoenix Theatre Company. Sue played Widow Corney, John Fagin, and Sarah The Artful Dodger.
Sarah attended Rushen Primary School and then Castle Rushen High School (CRHS). During this time, she sang with her mother and played violin from the age of 6, where she was taught by a formidable Scottish lady.
Sarah always wanted to play a brass instrument. At home, she would play tunes on teapots and watering cans. So when she went to CRHS, she asked the music teacher what brass instruments they had. The options were a trombone or a French Horn. She felt that the horn was for her, and from that day on, she has played the horn!
At CRHS, her horn teacher was Steve Wortley (a former Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Trombonist).
Sarah played in the school band and Orchestra and the Manx Youth Orchestra/Band and sang in the choir.
Sarah performed on and off stage in the pit on the Isle of Mann for many shows at the Gaiety Theatre. Her standout major role was Calamity Jane with Manx Operatic.
Sarah loved her music and sport, and there was always a time when there was a rivalry between hockey and musical commitments!
When Sarah moved to Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic/University of Northumbria to study Creative Arts and then Occupational Therapy, she knew she wanted to work with people but always had music as a hobby.
After graduating from university, Sarah returned to the Isle of Man and met Clive, whom she married in 1995. They emigrated to Australia in 2004.
Sarah has lived in Lane Cove for around 20 years and even lives in Lane Cove Street with a musical name.
Sarah is currently a member of the Cammeragyl Wind Symphony with conductor Gavin Staines and the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sarah told ITC:
“It’s amazing how music has such a powerful bond. Through the power of music and theatre, you can have so much enjoyment, meet up with people many years later, and still have unique stories and fun throughout your life.
“I am looking forward to playing in Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony — you will certainly see a lot of French horns!”
You may have seen Sarah perform in Lane Cove with one of the Lane Cove Community Bands. She usually performs at ANZAC Day ceremonies and citizenship ceremonies.
In January 2024, Sarah was part of the small brass ensemble that rose early to play at the Lane Cove Council 2024 Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony in The Canopy (in blistering heat).
The brass ensemble included Gary Clark, Sarah Hobson, Matthew Impellizzeri, Richard Palmer and Simone Katz.
Sarah is also president of Lane Cove Bowling Club and an excellent bowler.
Resurrection on Sunday, 17 March 2024, at The Concourse Chatswood
Mahler composed his second symphony between 1888 and 1894.
It was one of the most famous works of his lifetime and has been performed to acclaim worldwide for more than 125 years.
Mahler 2 is the second of his so-called ‘Wunderhorn Symphonies’. Due to the inspiration he derived, directly and indirectly, from Das Knaben Wunderhorn, the collection of German language poetry that exerted considerable influence on Austrian and German artists in the late 19th century.
As the title suggests, the second symphony’s central theme is life and death, particularly life after death.
The first movement was originally a tone poem, ‘Totenfeier’ (Funeral Rites), written in 1888.
Five years later, Mahler composed the second and third movements of what was destined to be a large-scale symphony.
The fourth movement, featuring a contralto soloist, employs a wunderhorn text concerning the struggle for faith.
For the fifth and last movement, which adds a soprano soloist and mixed chorus, he found inspiration in Friederich Klopstock’s poem ‘Die Auferstehung’ (The Resurrection), which he heard at Hans von Bülow’s funeral. Mahler then added some text of his own to complete the work.
This performance of one of the most acclaimed symphonies ever written is not to be missed!
Ticket Details
Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra presents MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 The Resurrection.
Sunday 17 March, 3:00 pm, The Concourse, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood
Conductor: Paul Terracini; Soloists: Imogen-Faith Malfitano, soprano;
Celeste Haworth, mezzo-soprano; Willoughby Symphony Choir
Tickets: Standard $55 | Concession $45 | Junior/Child $20 | Family (4 tickets, max two adults) $125
Bookings: https://www.theconcourse.com.au/event/kpo-mahler-2-resurrection/
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