Göteborgs Symfoniker
Available until 13 June 2023

Ruth Gipps: Symphony No. 3

Enjoy composer Ruth Gipps’ romantically pulsating Symphony No. 3 in this concert. Ruth Gipps’ music follows in the footsteps of her countrymen Frank Bridge and William Walton. In addition to being a composer, she was also a conductor, pianist, oboist and brilliant educator. In 1999 (the same year she passed away) she was awarded an MBE for her contributions to English music. The Guardian newspaper has described her music as playfully personal and shamelessly romantic. The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra is led by the British conductor Rumon Gamba, who has also made recordings of all five of Gipps’ symphonies with Chandos Records.

British conductor Rumon Gamba has been chief conductor of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra since 2022. He has been chief conductor and music director of NorrlandsOperan (2008-2015), chief conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor and music director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. He regularly conducts BBC orchestras and has appeared at the BBC Proms on a number of occasions.

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Programme

Ruth Gipps (1921 – 1999) Symphony No. 3 Op 57 1. Moderato 2. Theme with variations 3. Scherzo 4. Final British composer Ruth Gipps is one of many female composers who received new attention in the 21st century. She began composing as a child and studied oboe and piano at the Royal College of Music. At the age of 26, she became the youngest woman to receive a doctorate in composition, with a thesis called The Cat, a cantata for mixed choir, soloists and orchestra. Her style is romantic and similar to the leading figure in British composition of the same period, Ralph Vaughan Williams. She was also inspired by the more modernist Arthur Bliss. Gipp's first two symphonies were composed already in her 20s and consist of sensual, slow movements with episodic structures. Symphony No. 3 is beautifully embellished with violin melodies and lasted until 1965. By then she had founded two orchestras of her own in London and was active as a teacher at Trinity College. Ruth Gipps wrote a total of five symphonies, the works she valued most; they were well received but never consistently incorporated into the repertoire. Gipps also composed seven concertos, chamber music, choral music, songs and keyboard works.

Participants

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Rumon Gamba conductor