Alison Bellerby
Author's posts
SASO set to scale two towering peaks of Russian repertoire
“Dynamic Tom leads SASO into 2017 concert success…”
Critic Geoff Ward, writing in the Herts Advertiser, says he has never heard SASO play better than on January 2nd at its 2017 New Year Concert in St Albans Abbey. He praises the “sparkling” performance of Richard Strauss’s under the orchestra’s “dynamic and charismatic new conductor”, Tom Hammond. Leader Jenny Wigram is also singled out …
"Dynamic Tom leads SASO into 2017 concert success"
GEOFF WARD, reviewing SASO’s 2017 New Year Concert in the Herts Advertiser, says he has never heard the orchestra play better. St Albans Symphony Orchestra gave their annual New Year concert in St Albans Cathedral a day later than usual under their charismatic and dynamic new conductor, Tom Hammond (pictured). The concert began with a …
SASO prepares a musical firework display for New Year
St Albans Symphony Orchestra (SASO) is preparing to detonate a fizzing mixture of musical fireworks to welcome New Year on Monday January 2nd at the Abbey (7pm). The bank holiday date may be unusual – a consequence of New Year’s Day falling on a Sunday – but the programme will be packed as ever with …
‘Tom gets off to a flying start…’ as SASO’s new principal conductor
“New conductor Tom Hammond got St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s new season off to a fine start on Saturday (15 October) with a programme aimed to please,” says critic John Manning, writing in the Herts Advertiser. SASO’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathetique’ Sixth Symphony ‘gave full weight to the emotions of the work’ while Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs were “exquisitely …
SASO children’s concerts both sold out!
Heavy demand for advance tickets mean that both SASO children’s concerts on Sunday November 6th have sold out. We look forward to seeing our capacity audiences on the day and apologise to anyone that was still hoping to buy tickets. Little monsters, princesses, superheroes and witches are invited to wear fancy dress for musical fun …
‘Tom gets off to a flying start at symphony orchestra concert’
Herts Advertiser critic has given warm welcome to new SASO principal conductor, Tom Hammond – and the ‘exquisite’ singing of soprano soloist Dima Bawab. “New conductor Tom Hammond got St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s new season off to a fine start on Saturday (15 October) with a programme aimed to please.” “Wagner’s, ever-popular overture to The …
Autumn concert promises passion, fate and foreboding…
Passionate themes of love, fate and death dominate the opening concert of St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s new season – including final masterworks from the great romantic composers Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss (7.30pm, Saturday 15 October, St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL1 4DF). Playing under the baton of Tom Hammond, its newly-appointed principal conductor, …
Clarinet star Emma Johnson headlines SASO’s new season
International clarinet star Emma Johnson is among a series of musical treats lined up by St Albans Symphony Orchestra for its new season which starts this autumn. Celebrated since she became the first-ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 1984, Emma will appear on 24 June next year performing Lost Lanes, …
“….excellent playing from all concerned”
SASO’s summer concert featuring Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No1 and the monumental Symphony No 5 by Mahler has been highly praised by John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser. Of the Mahler performance, he writes that: “… under guest conductor William Carslake, the entire orchestra rose to the challenge of this wonderfully moving and epic work …
