The 35th Concert Season 2011/12

This is the Rutland Sinfonia’s 35th anniversary season and we intend to celebrate in style!

Our first concert, with its mix of the popular and unjustly neglected, typifies the Orchestra’s programming. Cecil Forsyth’s Viola Concerto was performed a number of times at the Proms in the early 1900’s, but since then, although performed in America and Germany, it has not received a public performance in Britain. It’s a big romantic work with strong melodic themes and instant appeal. I am certain that you are going to enjoy it, especially as we fortunate to have one of the country’s leading viola players as our soloist. This concert concludes with Dvorak’s glorious 8th Symphony.

A couple of seasons ago David Calow conducted Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony in a version completed by Professor Brian Newbold. In November you have the chance to hear Schubert’s 7th Symphony and learn how Professor Newbold reconstructed this piece from various fragments of material. Also on the bill there’s a neglected overture by Mendelssohn and well know music by Mozart and Richard Strauss.

In March our Oundle audience will be treated to an all Russian spectacular! It doesn’t come more powerful and passionate than Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony.

For the climax of our anniversary season I am delighted to be sharing a concert with Barry Collett the Orchestra’s Conductor Emeritus. There’s lots to look forward to in this concert. Barry has chosen music by two of his favourite composers and he is joined by the well known piano soloist Margaret Fingerhut. Personally, I’m particularly looking forward to conducting performances of ‘Rutlandia’ by local composer Peter Witchell and the evocative tone poem ‘Tintagel’ by Arnold Bax.

Please join us. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Paul Hilliam - Music Director