The BBC National Orchestra of Wales will take to the road later this month with a series of concerts across Wales with a brass lead as soloist and at the helm…

Concertos

The BBC NOW principal trumpet, Philippe Schartz will take the concerto spotlight in concerts at Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Thursday 26th March); Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor (Friday 27th March); William Aston Hall, Wrexham (Saturday 28th March) and Venue Cymru, Llandudno (Sunday 29th March).

The Luxembourg-born star is regarded as one the finest exponents of his art in Europe and has also gained an international reputation with his recitals and concertos performances.

At the helm

All four concerts are conducted by the young British conductor, Ben Gernon, winner of the internationally-acclaimed Nestl and Salzburg Festival Young Conductor’s Award in 2013, and no stranger to the brass band world — having been a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

Hayden & Arutiunian

In Aberystwyth and Bangor the orchestra will perform the drama and splendour of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Symphony No 4’ alongside Shostakovich’s carefree ‘Festive Overture’, as well as and two of the most popular trumpet concertos in the repertoire, from Haydn and Arutiunian, performed by Philippe.

In Wrexham and Llandudno, audiences will be transported across the Atlantic with a distinctly American theme — including the powerful ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ by Copland, and his ‘Quiet City’ featuring its haunting trumpet part.

Hummel

In the same programme is Dvorak’s 9th Symphony, ‘From the New World’, filled with references to both Native American songs, and his native Czech folk dances as well as the famous Hummel Trumpet Concerto.

Great works

Phillippe Schartz told 4BR: “I’m really looking forward to performing these great works. Every time I get the chance to perform the Arutiunian, I’m trying to emulate my great hero, the late Timofey Dokshitzer, one of the foremost trumpeters in Russia.

In Copland’s ‘Quiet City’, I love the magical atmosphere that is created when the trumpet and cor-anglais work together to depict the eeriness of the early dawn before a bustling city comes to life.”

I’m really looking forward to performing these great works. Every time I get the chance to perform the Arutiunian, I’m trying to emulate my great hero, the late Timofey Dokshitzer, one of the foremost trumpeters in RussiaPhillippe Schartz

Booking Information:

Tickets for all of the Orchestra’s concerts are available from the Orchestra’s bilingual Audience Line service, by calling 0800 052 1812.

No booking fees or postage charges apply when booking through the Orchestra’s Audience Line. Tickets can also be booked directly through the venues:

• Tickets for the concert at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, on Thursday 26th March, 7.30pm, are priced at £11-£20 (discounts available) and are available by calling the Box Office on 01970 623232, or visiting aberystwythartscentre.co.uk (booking through the venue incurs a £1 postage charge per order.)

• Tickets for the performance at Prichard-Jones Hall at Bangor University, on Friday 27th March, 7.30pm, are £15 (discounts available) and can be booked online at pontio.co.uk, or by calling 01248 382828 (booking through Pontio incurs a £2 postage charge per order.)

• Tickets for the performance at William Aston Hall at Glyndŵr University in Wrexham, on Saturday 28th March, 7.30pm, are £15 (discounts available) and can be booked online at williamastonhall.co.uk, or by calling 01978 293293 (booking through William Aston Hall incurs a £2 booking fee per order and a 60 postage charge per order.)

• Tickets for the concert at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, on Sunday 29th March, 3.00pm, are £11-£20 (discounts available) and can be booked online at venuecymru.co.uk or by calling 01492 872000 (booking through the venue incurs a £3 booking fee per transaction.)

For more information about the Orchestra, visit their website at bbc.co.uk/now

Full Listings:

Fate and Celebration
Thursday 26th March (7.30pm)
Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Friday 27th March (7.30pm)
Prichard-Jones Hall, Bangor

Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Arutiunian: Trumpet Concerto
Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 4

Conductor: Ben Gernon
Trumpet: Philippe Schartz
BBC National Orchestra of Wales

The American Dream
Saturday 28th March (7.30pm)
William Aston Hall, Wrexham

Sunday 29th November (3.00pm)
Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Hummel: Concerto for Trumpet
Copland: Quiet City
Dvorak: Symphony No 9 'From the New World'

Conductor: Ben Gernon
Trumpet: Philippe Schartz
BBC National Orchestra of Wales