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).
Sunday 15th June 2025 at 17:00
Richard Brown Pageant of the Seas Kleinsinger Tubby the Tuba Saint Saëns Carnival of the Animals Offenbach Overture Orpheus in the Underworld June’s Children’s Concert includes the classic Tubby the Tuba, famously narrated by Danny Kaye back in 1947. The programme also includes Richard Brown’s Pageant of the Seas and Saint-Saëns’ much-loved Carnival of the Animals. Book now to avoid disappointment! |
Saturday 17th May 2025 at 19:30
Ravel Alborada del gracioso Brahms Double Concerto for violin and cello Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 The sizzling power of Shostakovich’s Fifth – in May – follows Ravel’s piquant Alborada del gracioso and Brahms’ passionate Double Concerto performed by Lionel and Thelma Handy who last played it with us over thirty years ago! |
Saturday 15th March 2025 at 19:30
Strauss Four Last Songs Mahler Symphony No. 4 Our unmissable March concert features Strauss’s incomparable Four Last Songs, along with Schubert’s short-but-fragrant ‘Unfinished’ and Mahler’s glorious Fourth Symphony. |
Saturday 18th January 2025 at 19:30
Elgar Violin Concerto Nielsen Symphony No. 1 In January, we welcome back Sasha to play Elgar’s heartfelt violin concerto and we complete the programme with Nielsen’s fiery and wildly melodic First Symphony. |
Saturday 16th November 2024 at 19:30
Stephen Goss Guitar Concerto Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 Our season starts with Brahms’ stunning Academic Festival Overture, and then with a work John Williams considered ‘the most successful guitar concerto ever’. Rachmaninov’s ravishing Second Symphony completes the programme. |
Saturday 11th May 2024 at 19:30
Haydn Symphony 85 La Reine Wagner Götterdämmerung A stormy sea-voyage from Riga to London inspired Wagner’s glorious Flying Dutchman Overture. Haydn’s elegant Symphony 85 ‘La Reine’ – Marie Antoinette’s favourite – intervenes before excerpts from his immortal Götterdämmerung where, as Wagner wrote, ‘imagination creates reality.’ |
Saturday 9th March 2024 at 19:30
Debussy Jeux Bizet L’Arlésienne Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suites are a crowd- pleasing mix of Gallic charm, Provençal folksong and hits from The Pearl Fishers. They follow Debussy’s fleet-footed, subtle and alluring Jeux, and Franck’s poignant and ultimately triumphant D Minor Symphony. |
Saturday 20th January 2024 at 19:30
Walton Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 The ‘victory through strife’ of Tchaikovsky’s iconic Fifth is probably the stand-out here, but Rawsthorne’s characterful Street Corner Overture opens the show, with Walton’s most luscious concerto (for violin) in the middle. Walton, Rawsthorne Rehearsal
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 |
Saturday 11th November 2023 at 19:30
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 4 Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune Dvořák Symphony No. 5 An evening of wonderfully varied textures, with Berlioz’s effervescent Béatrice et Bénédict balanced by Rachmaninov’s jazz-influenced Fourth Piano Concerto and Debussy’s languorous Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. Dvořák’s tuneful Fifth Symphony forms the finale. |
Saturday 13th May 2023 at 19:30
Delius Violin Concerto Sibelius Symphony 6 Sibelius Karelia Suite Dvořák’s Scherzo Capriccioso, Delius’ sunny violin concerto, and Sibelius’ masterful Sixth form our season finale – with ‘Last Night of the Proms’ favourite Karelia Suite as encore. This season’s concerts are supported by the generosity of the ESG Robinson Charitable Trust. Dvořák Scherzo Capriccioso Delius Violin Concerto Sibelius Symphony 6 Sibelius Karelia Suite |
Saturday 11th March 2023 at 19:30
Steel Kent Invicta Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini 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 at 19:30
Mahler Symphony 6 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 at 19:30
Elgar Cello Concerto Vaughan Williams Sinfonia Antartica
Supported by the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust
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Saturday 11th June 2022 at 17:30
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 at 19:30
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 at 19:30
Horovitz Concerto for Euphonium Mendelssohn Overture A Midsummer Night’s Dream Bruckner Symphony No 6 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 at 19:30
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams English Folk Suite Bax Symphony No 6 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
Beethoven Octet for Wind Bartók Piano Concerto No 3 Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony 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
Elgar Sea Pictures Beethoven Symphony No 5 in C Minor 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
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
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Schubert Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) 
Dedicated to the memory of Bernard Brook (BSO Leader 1989-2012)
Brahms Academic Festival Overture 
Wagner Flying Dutchman Overture 
Franck 
Rawsthorne
Berlioz
Dvořák Scherzo Capriccioso 
Beethoven Symphony 6 ‘Pastorale’ 
Reinecke Flute Concerto 
Smyth The Wreckers 
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.
