St Albans Symphony Orchestra » Covid-19 virus: Rehearsals suspended until further notice and May 9 concert cancelled

Covid-19 virus: Rehearsals suspended until further notice and May 9 concert cancelled

17th March 2020

The SASO Committee is very sorry to announce that Wednesday and other rehearsals have been called-off until further notice. We also regret that our next concert of French music on Saturday May 9 in St Albans Cathedral has been cancelled. This follows the Government announcement on March 16 calling for a halt to all non-essential …

Critic praises “superb” Elgar and “exciting” Walton at SASO’s March concert

12th March 2020

Cellist Matthew Sharp’s moving performance of the Elgar concerto was “superb” according to Herts Advertiser critic John Manning, and “…one of the best solo live performances of the work I have ever heard.” But he was also excited by Principal Conductor Tom Hammond’s interpretation of William Walton Symphony No 1 and playing where “all involved …

“One of the best solo live performances of the work I have ever heard….”

12th March 2020

Herts Advertiser critic John Manning reviews a “superb” performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto by soloist Matthew Sharp, accompanied by praise for the whole orchestra and conductor Tom Hammond for their account of Walton’s First Symphony. I have a feeling that the main reason many people attended Saturday’s concert at St Saviour’s Church in St Albans …

Mighty ‘Organ’ symphony features in a festive feast of French music

11th March 2020

A feast of French music at St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert matches the majestic sound of an orchestra playing at full throttle with the mighty organ of St Albans Cathedral (7.30pm, Saturday 9 May) But while the ‘Organ’ Symphony by Camille Saint-Saens will provide a thrilling main attraction for many, the concert also looks …

‘Inspirational’ cellist Matthew Sharp returns to perform Elgar’s much-loved concerto

7th February 2020

Passionate, hauntingly lyrical and profoundly sad, Sir Edward Elgar’s much-loved Cello Concerto is the featured work in St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s in St Saviour’s Church on Saturday 7 March (7.30pm). The great English composer’s wife, Alice, died of lately-diagnosed lung cancer little more than six months after the first performance in October 1919 and the …

SASO New Year Concert makes the Viennese connection

30th November 2019

Concert-goers around the world agree that New Year and Viennese music make an unbeatable combination – and St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s concert in the Cathedral on Wednesday 1st January 2020 (7pm) showcases works that happily fall within that tradition. Star billing goes to Mozart’s celebrated Horn Concerto No 4 to be played by Ben …

WE’VE BEEN ON A BEAR HUNT! SASO’s children’s concerts a sell-out success.

18th November 2019

SASO’s annual concerts for children on Sunday 17 November in St Saviour’s Church were a ‘growling’, sell-out success! We played Ian Stephen’s scrumptious score for We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, including (uh-oh) ‘a totally groovy samba band’. Thanks go to our wonderful narrator, Carl Heap, and to our oboist Linda Norton (usually) who was …

Sea Symphony concert “a triumph at the Cathedral”

21st October 2019

The 2019 St Albans St Cecilia Festival Concert in St Albans Cathedral on October 12 was “a triumph at several levels”, according to John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser. He thoroughly enjoyed the contribution from massed children’s and adult choir and SASO’s playing, under Hardynge Choir and Vivamus conductor Rufus Frowde, “truly excelled …

St Albans St Cecilia Festival Society concert ‘a triumph’ at the Cathedral

21st October 2019

John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser, enjoyed the 2019 St Albans St Cecilia Festival concert as “a triumph on several levels” Combining a group of amateur choirs for a one-off performance can produce something of a nightmare – but this year’s presentation by the St Albans St Cecilia Festival Society was a triumph …

Ship ahoy! Massed choirs and SASO set sail for concert inspired by the sea

28th September 2019

The sea in all its moods – from breezy beach holidays to storm-tossed ships on mighty oceans – provides the salt-sprayed theme for the St Albans St Cecilia Festival Concert taking place in the Cathedral on Saturday 12 October (7.30pm). Photo: Conductor Rufus Frowde (© Glyn Davies) By tradition, the biennial festival concert brings …

Simon Allen

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