ELSO NEWS
Shortly after ELSO's first concert in April, retired architect and music-lover Petar Velnić contacted us offering to promote works by Croatian composers across the ages, including Luka Sorkočević (1734-1789), Dora Pejačević (1885-1923) and Milutin Polić (1883-1908). Polić, perhaps the least well known, died very young at only 25 and left a very small opus. His music has very rarely been performed in Croatia, and the Suite Fantastica, his best-known work, has never been recorded. Petar decided to come to the rescue when he financed the publication of the Suite in 2006.
"I obtained the manuscript from MIC (Croatian Music Information Centre) and found a local composer, Vladimir Pergjun, who prepared it for publishing under the supervision of Maestro Zoran Juranić who is a conductor here in Zagreb.
"Polić studied music in Venice and during his lifetime the composition was performed at the Venetian Conservatory conducted by Polić's teacher Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. [At its conclusion] the audience shouted 'evviva Croato!', and I thought something must be done about it."
The Suite Fantastica by Polić will be performed in the UK for the first time on Thursday 3 August at 7pm by East London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Zoë Kundu. The orchestra is extremely excited to be beginning this new friendship with Petar and hope to continue to promote lesser known works as well as works by living composers.
Saturday 22 July, 2017
Video footage to be released
East London Symphony Orchestra are to looking forward to releasing some recording of their first concert back in April. But don't just wait for us online; see us at our next concert!
Brahms, Arutiunian, and premieres Milutin Polić and Evan Bailey
Thursday 3 August, 7pm
St John of Jerusalem Church, Hackney
News Archive
Croatian gift: private publisher Petar Velnić provides ELSO with some special scores and parts, including the Suite Fantastica by Milutin Polić, to be performed in August.
Videos are online!
We're delighted that videos of select pieces from our two concerts are viewable on YouTube and through the website at the Video Gallery page. Sadly we can't post everything for copyright reasons, but both headlining symphonies, Tchaikovsky's Fifth and Brahms' Second are both up in full, as well as the fantastic new commission by Evan Bailey.
Be sure to check out our YouTube page and follow us on all our social media at the icons above. Our thanks go to Ashby Mayes and Bas Kundu for help with the video, and Jamie Conway for the sound.
Tuesday 14 November, 2017
Two premieres for 3 August
ELSO to play at MusiKaleigh, supporting Kaleigh's Trust
Here at ELSO we're very proud to be able to support Kaleigh's Trust, by performing at their upcoming fundraising event in Notting Hill. Kaleigh is a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed with DIPG, a rare and aggressive brain tumour, in April 2016. There is currently no cure available for this but, after much research, Kaleigh is going to Monterray, Mexico to be part of pioneering treatment, which seems to show some signs of positive results. This will be very expensive however, so Kaleigh's Trust is doing all it can to raise the funds to be able to send her.
The concert is being organised by Darren Bloom, and will also feature performances from actor Tom Austen and pianist Sachika Taniyama, a Wind Trio from the Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band, and a Gospel Choir. The theme is film music, and the concert is part of a wider event called “MusiKaleigh”, featuring a children’s music workshop, raffles and food.
We're really looking forward to performing Rhapsody in Blue and various John Williams classics on Saturday 3 March, 3-5pm, and to be supporting this worthy cause. We will be joined by Simone Tavoni on the piano.
Monday 5 February, 2018
Kaleigh Lau, 7, was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumour, in April 2016.
