Manchester Camerata x RNCM: Beethoven’s Eroica / Tue 29 Sept
Arthur Feder Homestead (UK premiere)
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Op 33 *
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No 3 in E flat major ‘Eroica’
About
RNCM conducting fellow, Jacobus de Jager, leads Manchester Camerata in a performance that travels from the Classical period to the present day, with orchestral works from Tchaikovsky and Beethoven, and featuring a UK premiere by Arthur Feder.
Tchaikovsky, though composing in the late 19th century, admired the elegance and clarity of the Classical style, particularly drawing inspiration from Mozart, whom he described as ‘a sunny genius’. During a period of personal turmoil, he turned to the serenity of 18th century music for emotional refuge. His Variations on a Rococo Theme exemplify this influence, showcasing an ornate yet refined style that reflects the Rococo aesthetic. RNCM musician Chloe Chen joins the orchestra as cello soloist.
Beethoven’s celebrated Eroica Symphony is widely regarded as a landmark in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras, breaking boundaries within the symphonic form. Subtitled ‘composed to celebrate the remembrance of a great man’, the work was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom Beethoven believed embodied the ideals of the French revolution. However, after Napoleon became Emperor, a disillusioned Beethoven reportedly tore up the title page. The ‘Eroica’ title may therefore refer to Napoleon as he once was, or more broadly to the concept of heroism.
Manchester Camerata
Manchester Camerata is a registered charity working and performing in Manchester and worldwide since 1972.
Be it opening Glastonbury festival in front of 40,000 people or working intimately in care homes with people living with dementia, we believe in the transformative and connecting nature of music. That connection drives us, and we work with the best creative talent to make this happen.
With our live performances, we play music with no boundaries. From an orchestral rave performed in isolation to over one million people during the Covid-19 pandemic, to touring Mozart in the most beautifully intimate concert halls, or re-imagining classical music with electronic producers at the top of their game, we believe great music is great music and we present this to you at the highest level.
To achieve our artistic excellence and forward-thinking ethos, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Led by our visionary Music Director, Gábor Takács-Nagy, we collaborate with diverse international artists, from New Order to Martha Argerich to Aziz Ibrahim to Lewis Capaldi.
Jacobus de Jager, conductor
South African conductor Jacobus de Jager is the 2025/26 Junior Fellow in Conducting at the RNCM and a conducting fellow on the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Conducting Programme. He was recently one of the final seven conductors in the 2026 Mahler Competition in Bamberg and has been selected as one of four conductors for the Lucerne Festival’s Contemporary Conducting Programme. He has worked with leading orchestras including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Manchester Camerata, The Hallé, Orchestre national de Metz Grand Est, and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Chloe Chen, cello *
Chloe is a cellist from Singapore and is currently studying at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Hannah Roberts. In her second year of studies at the RNCM, she was awarded the John Barbirolli Memorial Prize for Cello and was also awarded the Amy Lindley Prize for cello in her first year of studies. Chloe is a keen chamber musician and is currently part of the ONYX Ensemble, frequently giving performances across the UK and was part of the Spirit Trio which won the RNCM Nossek Prize in 2024. She has played with various orchestras in Singapore, including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and was appointed principal in the National Youth Orchestra.
