Grace-Evangeline Mason at the Royal Albert Hall
Photo: Chris Christodoulou
“The curtain raiser was Grace-Evangeline Mason’s carefully coloured and cannily orchestrated Ablaze the Moon, a love poem with a starry dimension.”
Mark Wigglesworth conducts The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Photo: Chris Christodoulou
‘ABLAZE THE MOON’ for orchestra is inspired by the poem ‘Tonight’ by the American lyric poet, Sara Teasdale (1884-1933). The melodies in the piece follow the lines of the poem, which are full of vivid descriptions and begin ‘The moon is a curving flower of gold, the sky is still and blue; The moon was made for the sky to hold, and I for you.’
In this short concert opener, the image of the moon as a flower of gold hanging in a dark sky is alluded to by atmospheric passages that begin in the circling woodwinds. These are contrasted with deep punctuations in the strings suggesting the vast darkness that surrounds it. These forceful interjections ignite the woodwinds to intersperse, fall, and spiral, momentarily accentuating the inky backdrop of the sky. The music drives forward through the expanse, with the horns and brass building the texture, until the piece opens out into an ethereal, and celestial space as ‘the sky is luminous; eternity was made for them, to-night for us.’
Tuesday night saw the premiere of ABLAZE THE MOON performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra under Mark Wigglesworth as part of The BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The piece was commissioned to be a short concert-opener to be followed by a programme of Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto performed by Sir Stephen Hough, and Mahler’s First Symphony.
In the 50th year of the Royal Northern College of Music, this concert was also part of their anniversary celebrations, as both Sir Stephen Hough and Grace-Evangeline Mason are alumni of the college - a concert with Manchester connections.
“Impressionist string phrases hovering over penumbral dissonances suggest moonlight in darkness. It’s quietly effective, and was beautifully done.”
Ablaze the Moon Score from the Royal Albert Hall Stage
“it crystalises enormous textures into something that is entirely persuasive”
“the textures here are just as important as the tunes, with orchestral moods drawing on Ravel, all billowy strings and warm clouds of woodwind. The melodies gave many of the section soloists a chance to shine.”
“Sensuous and intriguing”
“Well-crafted”
“very beautiful”
“Impressive in her use of the orchestra and as music”
