Archive

These pages contain programmes and recordings of most of our recent performances. In addition, a list of every piece we have performed since 1960 is on the repertoire page and a history of the orchestra is on the about page.

Many of the sound recordings in this archive were recorded by students on the Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey, for which we are very grateful. Note that explicit approval is required for any photography or recordings, since we must have the consent of everyone involved and pay any extra fees incurred.

Click the programme covers to download the complete programme in PDF format. You can use a browser plugin such as Video & Audio Downloader to download audio and video recordings (start playing the recording to make it appear in the list).

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Saturday 11th March 2023

Programme March 2023Bust of BeethovenBeethoven  Symphony 6 ‘Pastorale’ Speaker symbol

Steel  Kent Invicta Speaker symbol

Tchaikovsky  Francesca da Rimini Speaker symbol

In our third concert, Beethoven’s beloved Sixth (‘Pastorale’) Symphony is preceded by the final work from our composition competition, and by Tchaikovsky’s lusciously romantic symphonic fantasy – Francesca da Rimini.

This season’s concerts are supported by the generosity of the ESG Robinson Charitable Trust.

Saturday 21st January 2023

Programme January 2023Amy Yule with fluteReinecke Flute Concerto Speaker symbol
    Soloist Amy Yule

Mahler Symphony 6  Speaker symbol

Mahler’s awe-inspiring Sixth – of which Berg wrote, ‘There is only one Sixth, Beethoven’s notwithstanding’ – forms the backbone of our second concert. The brilliant Amy Yule, principal flute in the Hallé, is showcased in the Brahmsian Reinecke flute concerto.

This season’s concerts are supported by the generosity of the ESG Robinson Charitable Trust.

Saturday 12th November 2022

Programme November 2022Vaughan Williams with Scott of the Antarctic posterSmyth The Wreckers Speaker symbol

Elgar Cello Concerto Speaker symbol
    Soloist Alice McVeigh
    Conductor Simon McVeigh

Vaughan Williams Sinfonia Antartica Speaker symbol
Celebrating 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth

In honour of Vaughan Williams’ 150th anniversary, his atmospheric and monumental Sinfonia Antartica features for November. Elgar’s immortal cello concerto will be performed by Alice McVeigh, herself celebrating 40 years leading our cello section. Smyth’s dramatic overture opens this intensely English concert.

Supported by the Vaughan Williams Charitable TrustVaughan Williams Charitable Trust

Saturday 11th June 2022 at 17:30

Programme June 2022

As a bonus, our children’s concert features Rossini’s lively “William Tell” overture, themes from the Harry Potter films, and Paul Patterson’s clever and winningly dramatic Red Riding Hood.

Note: This is an additional concert, outside our regular seaon. Tickets for this concert cost £5 for under 18s, £15 for adults.

Saturday 14th May 2022

Programme May 2022

Our final concert of the 2021/22 season represents catnip for romantics: Respighi’s Fountains of Rome is followed by a ten- minute work by a finalist in our composers’ competition (Robert Ely). Afterwards, the prizewinning Callum Smart delivers Korngold’s rhapsodic violin concerto. What could possibly follow that, except for Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony?

Adrian Brown interviewed about this concert on BBC radio – excerpt from The Dominic King Show 12th May 2022

Saturday 12th March 2022

Programme March 2022Nicolai Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor Speaker symbol

Horovitz Concerto for Euphonium Speaker symbol
    Soloist Robbie Henderson

Mendelssohn Overture A Midsummer Night’s Dream Speaker symbol

Bruckner Symphony No 6 Speaker symbol

In our third concert, Horovitz’s virtuosic yet engaging Concerto for Euphonium (with rising star Robbie Henderson) is framed by two overtures: Nicholai’s jovial Merry Wives of Windsor and Mendelssohn’s irresistible Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. Bruckner’s shortest and perhaps most classical symphony completes the concert.

Saturday 22nd January 2022

Programme Jan 2022Vaughan Williams Wasps Overture Speaker symbol

Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Speaker symbol
Peter Longworth In the golden sky, the swallows turn
    Soloist Emily Davis

Vaughan Williams English Folk Suite Speaker symbol

Bax Symphony No 6 Speaker symbol

Redolent of the glories of the English countryside, our second concert begins with Vaughan Williams’ glittering “Wasps” Overture. We then feature the wonderful Emily Davis in the much-loved Lark Ascending (and in Longworths’ delicate tribute to the same). Bax’s gloriously powerful Sixth Symphony encompasses the second half. (“The work marches irrevocably from point to point with the inevitability of mastery.” – its first review.)

Saturday 13th November 2021 at 19:30

Programme Nov 2021Rustam KhanmurzinBeethoven Overture Leonora No 3 Speaker symbol

Beethoven Octet for Wind Speaker symbol

Bartók Piano Concerto No 3
    Soloist Rustam Khanmurzin

Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony Speaker symbol

Our season opens with Beethoven at his grandest – Leonora Overture No. 3 – followed by Beethoven at his most intimate – his wind octet. Then the gifted Rustam Khanmurzin plays the folksong inspired Third Concerto for piano by Bartók. Mendelssohn’s scintillating Scottish symphony wraps up the concert with a Celtic flourish!

Saturday 17th July 2021, 17:30 and 20:00

Programme Jul 2021Janice WatsonWagner Die Meistersinger Overture Speaker symbol

Elgar Sea Pictures Speaker symbol
    Soloist Janice Watson

Beethoven Symphony No 5 in C Minor Speaker symbol

Socially-distanced concert with two performances in one day so as many of you can attend as possible. Tickets (for these concerts only) are priced at £15 (under 18s free but they need to “buy” a ticket).  Please note that no refreshments will be served and there will be no interval.

Saturday 14th March 2020 at 19:30

Programme Mar 2020Prokofiev

Maunders Bacchanale Speaker symbol
Tippett Five Spirituals and The Weeping Babe Speaker symbol
     Sine Nomine choir – musical director Jonny Davies

Tippett Double String Concerto Speaker symbol

Prokofiev Symphony No 5 Speaker symbol

The March concert opens with the Syrian-influenced Bacchanal by Florence Anna Maunders (from our composers competition). This is followed by Tippett’s joyful Concerto for Double String  Orchestra, his most popular work, with hints of Bartók, folk idioms and the blues. Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony concludes. (The composer: ‘a hymn to Man’s noble spirit – it filled my soul.’)

Maunders – Bacchanale