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).
Saturday 9th March 2024 at 19:30Franck Symphonie in D minor 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 19:30Rawsthorne Street Corner Overture Walton Violin Concerto 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. |
Saturday 11th November 2023 at 19:30Berlioz Béatrice et Bénédict Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 4 Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune 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 19:30Delius Violin Concerto 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 19:30Beethoven Symphony 6 ‘Pastorale’ 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 19:30Reinecke Flute Concerto 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 19:30Elgar Cello Concerto Vaughan Williams Sinfonia Antartica 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 Trust |
Saturday 11th June 2022 at 17:30As 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 19:30Our 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 19:30Nicolai Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor Horovitz Concerto for Euphonium Mendelssohn Overture A Midsummer Night’s Dream 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. |