‘I well remember the
first performance of Dame Ethel Smyth’s Concerto for Violin & Horn and orchestra
[1] in 1929 [2] which the composer directed herself. Addressing the audience
from the rostrum, Dame Ethel informed us that in the course of the work the
horn soloist, Aubrey Brain [3], would perform the incredible feat of playing
two notes at once. The concerto then went merrily along, but just before Aubrey
Brain’s great moment, Dame Ethel turned again to face us, and giving a sign
that Winton Churchill has since made world-famous indicated to the delighted
audience that the miracle was about to happen.'
Notes
[1] Dame Ethel
Smyth (1858-1944) The Concerto for violin, horn and orchestra was composed in 1927,
near the end of Smyth’s composing career.
The Concerto was
performed at the Queen’s Hall, London on Saturday 5 March 1927. Other works included Richard Wagner’s
Prelude, Lohengrin, Mozart’s Violin Concerto
No. 3 in G and Miaskowsky’s Symphony No. 6, Op. 23. Henry Wood was the conductor of all works
other than Smyth’s Concerto. The
violinist that afternoon was Jelly D’Aranyi.
[2] Harold
Rutland would appear to have mis-remembered the date. Or was he recalling
another performance.
[3] Aubrey Brain
(1893-1955) was a well-respected horn player who worked with the New Symphony Orchestra,
at Covent Garden and as principal of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, He remained
there until retiring with ill-health in 1945. He taught horn at the Royal Academy
of Music from 1923 until his death in 1955.
Ethel Smyth wrote her concerto specifically for Brain. Aubrey Brain was
the father of Dennis Brain, the horn player who was
tragically killed in a car accident in 1957.
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