See in the New Year in style with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s traditional celebration of Johann Strauss, the King of Waltz. Don’t miss your chance to hear his waltzes, marches and polkas as they should be heard – played by a full symphony orchestra! Following on from his hugely successful debut at the BSO with the New Year Gala in 2013, the Orchestra is delighted to welcome back charming Viennese conductor Aleksandar Marković for what is sure to be a festive afternoon looking towards the excitement of the New Year. He will be joined by stunning soprano Rebecca Bottone.
Kick off Christmas with our fun-packed concert for all the family, featuring seasonal classics old and new, all wrapped up with a sprinkling of magic and sparkle. A rollercoaster of Christmas favourites lies in store, including Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Sleigh Ride, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
All this plus a selection of popular songs from the best of West End and Broadway musicals, including Beauty & the Beast, Gypsy Overture, The Girl from 14G, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Chess and Company.
The incidental music for The Tempest, the tone poem Tapiola and the Seventh Symphony were Sibelius’ last significant compositions. Possibly the most ambitious and extraordinary symphonies in the repertoire – a work of great confidence and affirmation – the Seventh is more a sort of giant rondo. Comprising one seamless flow of thematic development it builds from a few melodic scraps towards a final upward sweep and trombone hymn that seems to reach out to infinity.
Contrastingly, Tapiola is dusky, mysterious and brooding – evoking the god of the forest and a seemingly endless...
With references to the brilliant warmth and light of Italy and the rugged grandeur of the Cornish coast, Elgar’s Second Symphony is far more complex and deeply personal than his First. Riddled with doubts, questioning and conflict it reflects not only the true spirit of the age but also the personality of the composer as it meanders from extrovert exuberance to melancholy introversion.
Elgar himself stated that “I have written out my soul”. In this most lyrical, poetic and fantastical of his concertos, Beethoven does not abandon Mozartian concerto form but imbues it with a...
A new group of outstanding, professional Devon-based musicians will perform two bright and brilliant classics of 20th century music, featuring the voices of Sarah Owen and Kate Westbrook at Exeter Phoenix on Sunday 1st November at 7.30pm. Musical Director, Emma Welton, has brought together some of the most adventurous musicians in Devon to play music that rarely gets heard in Exeter:
Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs, for mezzo soprano with ensemble of harp, strings, wind and percussion is a collection of songs from the United States, Armenia, France, Sicily, Sardinia and more. The songs...
A varied programme, a local composer, a talented soloist and a collaboration with a Devon youth ensemble has provided the perfect mix for a sell-out concert on July 11th for the Exeter Symphony Orchestra.
The ESO will perform Vaughan Williams’ Concerto Grosso. The piece is unique, in that the orchestra is split into 3 sections - advanced, intermediate and novice which provides the perfect opportunity for the Orchestra to team up with local youth ensemble Da Capo, run by Sarah Greinig.
Composer, and ESO member, Laura Rossi will be in the audience on Saturday to see the ESO...
A former student of Dame Gillian Weir and Allan Wicks (Organ), and Ronald Smith (Piano), Peter King was appointed Director of Music at Bath Abbey in 1986. Under his direction the Abbey Choir has visited Germany, Holland and France, and has released eight CDs and broadcast on BBC TV and Radio 3. In 1997 Peter started a Girls' Choir at Bath Abbey; it quickly established itself as one of the finest of such choirs. Together with Nicolas Kynaston, Peter was responsible for the design and installation of the Abbey's Klais Organ. His 8 CDs with Bath Abbey Choir and his 12 CDs on the new...
The distinctive sound of Libera has travelled the world in the last few years. The group's albums have topped both mainstream and classical charts in many countries, and their recordings hold their place in top-tens alongside major artists like Bocelli.
The boys who make up the vocal band Libera have been described as “normal” and “ordinary”. However, as their recordings and performances demonstrate, the music they produce is truly extraordinary. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. These are truly sounds...
The programme for The Music Makers’ next concert, on Tuesday 21st July (the 9th of the series) could be the most impressive yet in terms of both musical works and musicianship. A great work of historic chamber music, Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quintet (for piano and string quartet, composed in 1864) is the main feature of a programme including a Haydn string quartet and a set of songs by Gustav Mahler. The Music Makers’ concerts offer an opportunity to hear a wide range of music, usually involving the modern grand piano at Crediton Congregational Church – and ranging from historic classical to...
The Sixteen and Harry Christophers take a trip back to 16th-century Spain and more specifically to one of the biggest, richest and most cosmopolitan cities on earth - Seville. It was during this Spanish ‘golden age’ when arts and culture flourished, that Francisco Guerrero and Alonso Lobo made their mark. Between them these two composers capture an astonishing variety of moods within their music, from ecstasy and joy to despair, longing and devotional stillness.
