Senior Orchestra

Programme notes

NYO will transport you to the lavender fields and sunshine of Provence with a programme recently performed at the Provençal Festival of Youth Orchestras.

Triumphal March from Aida

Verdi's Triumphal March from Aida is one of the most iconic and stirring pieces in the operatic repertoire. Composed in 1871 for the grand opera set in ancient Egypt, the march accompanies a spectacular scene celebrating the Egyptian army’s victory. With its bold brass fanfares, stately rhythms, and majestic orchestration, the music captures the grandeur and pomp of a royal procession. It remains a popular concert piece, admired for its dramatic power and timeless splendour.

Kol Nidrei (arr. violin and orchestra)

Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, originally composed in 1881 for cello and orchestra, is a meditative and soulful work based on Hebrew melodies, including the traditional Kol Nidrei prayer sung on Yom Kippur. In this arrangement for violin and orchestra, the piece retains its spiritual depth and emotional intensity, with the violin’s expressive voice bringing a unique, poignant quality to the music. Rich in lyrical beauty and reverence, Kol Nidrei remains one of Bruch’s most moving and enduring compositions.

Annabel Stevens is a violinist from West Bridgford, currently based in Glasgow, where she recently graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a Bachelor Degree in Music Performance. Annabel began playing the violin at Jesse Gray school when she was 5 years old with Alison Sutton, before joining the Oasby Music Group in Lincolnshire and learning with Laura Gardiner. She was a member of the Nottingham Youth Orchestra from 2010 to 2021. Whilst at the RCS, Annabel studied with Professor Andrea Gajic and Katrina Lee, and was awarded the Dunbar-Gerber Prize for Chamber Music, the Scottish Symphony Club Orchestral Prize, the Bessie Spence Prize for Violin, and first place in the RCS Classical Concerto Competition. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Stirling Orchestra, the Glasgow Symphony Orchestra, the RCS orchestra and the Trent Chamber Orchestra. During the past four years in Scotland, Annabel has worked freelance with the RSNO, the BBCSSO, and the GRIT Orchestra, with festival performances at Celtic Connections, Mendelssohn on Mull, Cantilena Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival. Earlier this year, Annabel became a 2025 Scottish Ensemble Young Artist and is looking forward to joining the ensemble on an upcoming tour in October.

Romance in F major (arr. violin and orchestra)

Max Bruch’s 'Romance in F major', originally composed for viola and orchestra in 1874, is a lyrical and deeply expressive work that showcases Bruch’s gift for melody. In this arrangement for violin and orchestra, the piece takes on a new character, allowing the violin’s singing tone to bring warmth and intimacy to the music. With its gentle, flowing lines and rich harmonic textures, 'the Romance' offers a moment of quiet reflection and emotional depth, making it a poignant highlight in any concert programme.

L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1

1. Prélude
2. Minuetto
3. Adagietto
4. Carillon

Georges Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1, composed in 1872, is drawn from his incidental music for Alphonse Daudet’s play of the same name. This vibrant suite captures the rustic charm and drama of southern France through four contrasting movements. The bold Prélude introduces a powerful Provençal theme; the graceful Minuetto offers elegance and poise; the tender Adagietto provides lyrical warmth; and the lively Carillon, with its rhythmic energy and bell-like effects, brings the suite to a jubilant close. Rich in melody and colour, it remains a favourite in the concert repertoire.

Walk to the Paradise Garden

Frederick Delius’s Walk to the Paradise Garden is a richly atmospheric interlude from his opera A Village Romeo and Juliet, composed in 1907. This orchestral piece accompanies the young lovers’ final journey to a secluded riverside inn, where their tragic fate awaits. With its lush harmonies, flowing lines, and serene, dream-like mood, the music evokes both deep longing and gentle resignation. Walk to the Paradise Garden stands beautifully on its own in the concert hall, offering a poignant glimpse into Delius’s impressionistic and deeply emotional sound world.

Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah

The "Bacchanale" from Camille Saint-Saëns' opera Samson and Delilah is a vibrant and sensual orchestral piece that depicts a wild, pagan celebration. It's the third act's opening scene, where Delilah and other women dance to seduce Samson and ultimately lead to his downfall. The music is known for its rich orchestration, including powerful low-pitched woodwinds and brass, and a prominent percussion section.