Julia Majewska plays Korngold

Immersed in the golden era of cinema, The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra returns to Cadogan Hall for a spell‑binding program that melds cinematic grandeur with orchestral brilliance. Under the baton of Paul Hoskins, the youthful virtuoso Julia Majewska, winner of this year’s Purcell School Concerto Competition, takes center stage on the violin, bringing unmistakable passion and spirited flair to the fireworks of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto—whose lush themes echo the romantic soundtracks of “Another Dawn” (1937), “Anthony Adverse” (1936), and “The Prince and the Pauper” (1937). The concert continues with Doreen Carwithen’s evocative “Men of Sherwood Forest Overture,” followed by William Walton’s exhilarating “Spitfire Prelude and Fugue” from the 1942 film *The First of the Few*, and culminates in Howard Hanson’s sweeping “Symphony No. 2, ‘The Romantic’.” This cinematic score, famously influencing John Williams’ *E.T.*, showcases the enduring legacy of British film music, highlighted by Carwithen’s pioneering Hollywood compositions. The Purcell School, Britain’s oldest specialist music school, brings together around 200 musically gifted teenagers from across the globe—boarders and day pupils alike—each united by an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence. Celebrate this remarkable fusion of film and symphony, and witness young talent illuminate the hall with a radiant, nostalgic energy that pays homage to the timeless magic of 1940s cinema.