Alison Bellerby
Author's posts
SASO’s New Year 2016 concert “a huge success”, declares critic
SASO’s New Year Concert for 2016 was “a huge success” according to John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser. His review notes that: “From the start with Saint-Saens’ rousing Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah it was obvious that the orchestra was on form and working well with its guest. And the good work continued with Mascagni’s …
"SASO gets 2016 off to a flying start for audience"
John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser, declared SASO’s 2016 New Year concert to be “a huge success” After more than three decades St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s annual New Year’s Day concert has become one the biggest musical events of the year for the city. And the 2016 concert at St Albans Cathedral was no …
SASO’s New Year’s Day resolution is to “keep dancing”!
From the cha-cha-cha and Hungarian czardas, to the mambo and Viennese waltz, St Albans Symphony Orchestra intends to “keep dancing” at its annual New Years Day concert in St Albans Cathedral (7pm, Friday 1st January). Its programme of classical dance favourites ranges from the exotic Bacchanale that Camille Saint-Saens composed for his opera Samson et Delilah, to pulsating jazz …
“…some truly great sounds”: critic praises SASO in Dvorak Requiem
“Few who heard it in St Albans Cathedral on Saturday could fail to agree that this powerful and dramatic work should be heard far more often” writes Herts Advertiser critic John Manning , reviewing the 2015 St Cecilia Festival Society performance of Dvorak’s Requiem. in St Albans Cathedral. “With a choir of around 120 drawn …
St Cecilia Society shows why Requiem still matters
Herts Advertiser critic John Manning praises the St Cecilia Festival Society’s performance of Dvorak’s rarely-heard Requiem Congratulations to all concerned in the St Albans St Cecilia Festival Society’s presentation of Dvorak’s rarely-heard Requiem. Few who heard it in St Albans Cathedral on Saturday could fail to agree that this powerful and dramatic work should be heard far …
St Cecilia Festival seeks new friends for Dvorak’s neglected masterpiece
When Alex Flood raises his baton to conduct Dvorak’s Requiem in St Albans Cathedral on Saturday October 31st (7.30pm) it will be 125 years to the day since the great Czech composer completed the orchestration of one of his least-familiar masterpieces. Premiered a year later in Birmingham, the work displayed the combination of drama, tender lyricism and memorable …
Wanted: Little Monsters (and other furry friends) for SASO’s children’s concerts
Little monsters (furry friends as well as fiends) are wanted on Sunday October 11th for St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s popular annual concerts for children (2pm repeated at 3.30pm, St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans). Children are invited wear their best fancy dress for a concert featuring the best-loved story ever set to classical music: Serge …
“…one of the best performances…ever”
SASO’s summer concert of English music was one of its best ever, according to John Manning, music reviewer for the Herts Advertiser. He reports that in a highly-polished account of Elgar’s Enigma Variations “every member of the orchestra gave of their very best”, providing a fitting farewell for Bjorn Bantock, the orchestra’s Principal Conductor for …
Bjorn’s swansong delights audience
John Manning, music critic for the Herts Advertiser, found SASO on top form for its ‘Best of Britain’ concert, providing a fitting farewell for Principal Conductor Bjorn Bantock For four seasons conductor Bjorn Bantock has been an inspiration to the St Albans Symphony Orchestra, providing excellent leadership and direction. But Saturday’s concert was his last …
SASO’s summer celebration of English music
St Albans Symphony Orchestra (SASO) celebrates English music at its best for its summer concert on Saturday 27th June – with leader Jennifer Wigram and her son David both featuring as soloists (7.30pm St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, AL1 4DF). Jennifer, who has been SASO’s leader since 1981, will perform The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. …
