The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra makes a rousing start to its new season, at the newly refurbished Assembly Hall Theatre, on Sunday 4th October with a concert of popular works. Music Director Roderick Dunk (pictured) conducts Gustav Holst’s suite The Planets, Leonard Elschenbroich returns to play Dvořák’s tuneful cello concerto and the concert begins with a rousing brass fanfare by Paul Dukas, composer of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
The Orchestra is one of the foremost in the South East Region. Its players are a mixture of talented local musicians supplemented by professionals from orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra. They are joined by international soloists as well as younger rising stars to perform a series of six concerts each year that have been praised for the quality of their music making and their range of exciting, accessible and memorable programmes.
Later in the season you can hear Elgar’s first symphony, hailed at its premiere as “the greatest symphony of modern times” and Shostakovich’s dark and dramatic 10th symphony, composed just after Stalin’s death but still with a sense of threat just beneath the music’s surface. Haydn’s Drumroll symphony, Sibelius’s 3rd symphony and Glazunov’s suite The Seasons make a fascinating contrast to these monumental works.
In the November concert, the orchestra are excited to be joined for the first time by young violinist Thomas Gould who has already gained a great reputation for his technical prowess and musicality. Thomas will play Haydn’s C major concerto.
The December concert will be a complete contrast with two guitar concertos by Rodrigo and Vivaldi – played by the wonderful Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang. The February concert features Mozart’s joyful and lyrical piano concerto in A major played by Victor Sangiorgio.
In March the orchestra welcome back Alexandra Wood with Brahms’s violin concerto and the season is rounded off in April with an all-American programme featuring works by Copland, Bernstein and Gershwin, whose piano concerto will be played by one of the season’s favourite soloists, Freddy Kempf.
The first Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra concert of the season appears at the Assembly Hall Theatre on Sunday 4th October at 3:00pm. Tickets £15, £18, £22, & £25(18 or under & Students £1), plus a booking fee, are available through the box office on 01892 530613 or online at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk For Season Tickets please contact Gale Smith on 01892 826169 or e.mail: tickets@rtwso.org