About CUMS I
"When the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain tackled Messiaen's Turangalila-Symphonie at the 2001 Proms, we all marvelled at how an orchestra made up of people no older than 19 could bring so much musicality, verve and excitement to this work. Could any other aspiring young person's ensemble achieve such standards? The answer is most definitely 'yes', as was demonstrated by the Cambridge University Musical Society concert at West Road Concert Hall. This was a special evening for CUMS and one that all involved should hold dear to their hearts for a long time. A great achievement."
www.oliviermessiaen.org, March 2008
CUMS I is the university's most prestigious symphony orchestra. With extremely high standards and a lively social scene to match, this is Cambridge music making at its best!
Highlights this year will include
- Beethoven's Symphony No.9 and the world première of a major new commission from Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in celebration of the University of Cambridge's 800th anniversary
- Holst's The Planets and Walton Viola Concerto No.1 with Peter Stark
- Elgar's Sea Pictures with Martin Andre and Catherine Wyn-Rogers, recently hailed as "the best mezzo in Britain" by The Times
- Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the CUMS Festival Chorus under Christopher Robinson
- Orchestral coaching throughout the year with members of the Philharmonia Orchestra
- A tour to Tuscany
Other plans may include
- A live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 from Ely Cathedral
- An appearance at the City of London Festival
CUMS I Concerts
| November 2008 | ||||||
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | ||||
Wed 26th November 2008: CUMS I: Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky
20:00, West Road
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony
Free pre-concert talk in the Concert Hall at 7pm by Mark Austin and Carlos del Cueto
Mark Austin, Carlos del Cueto conductors
Tickets £10 (£8 conc) Students £5 on the door
Sat 17th January 2009: CUMS I: Beethoven Missa Solemnis with Christopher Robinson
20, King's College Chapel
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
CUMS I
Chorus to include Trinity College Choir, Queens' College Choir, Magdalene College Choir, and Sidney Sussex College Choir
Christopher Robinson conductor
Mezzo Kate Symonds-Joy
Tenor Andrew Staples
Bass David Soar
Thu 12th March 2009: CUMS I: Rachmaninov, Elgar, Resphighi - with Martin Andre
20:00, King's College Chapel
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3
Elgar Sea Pictures
Respighi Fountains of Rome
Free pre-concert talk in Keynes Hall at 7pm
Martin André conductor
Catherine Wyn-Rogers mezzo soprano
Mateusz Borowiak piano
This concert has been made possible through the generous support of Cambridge Water. The proceeds from this performance will support Wateraid.
Sat 13th June 2009: CUMS I and Chorus: Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Sir Peter Maxwell Daviews world premiere
19:30, King's College Chapel
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies new work, commissioned by CUMS in celebration of the University of Cambridge's 800th anniversary (world première)
Beethoven Symphony No.9
Free pre-concert talk in Keynes Hall at 6.30pm by Robert Culshaw
Lynne Dawson soprano
Madeleine Shaw mezzo
Andrew Staples tenor
Gerald Finley bass
Stephen Cleobury conductor
Mon 22nd June 2009: 2009 City of London Festival
19:30, Royal Albert Hall
CUMS I and Chorus will be opening the 2009 City of London Festival alongside King’s College Choir with a repeat performance of our new Maxwell Davies piece and sections of Haydn’s The Creation.