"Beethoven symphony raises roof"


Herts Advertiser critic John Manning found SASO’s March 7th Beethoven concert “exciting and inspirational” With members of the Hertfordshire Chorus and other local choirs as well as a team of top class soloists, the orchestra…
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Oh those Russians…


Pianist Alissa Firsova and the St Albans Symphony Orchestra received further critical praise from critic John Manning for their New Year 2015 performance of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini: “Although Alissa Firsova has…
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Russian violinist expands her repertoire with concerto


John Manning, music critic of the Herts Advertiser, was “dazzled” by the Korngold Violin Concerto at SASO’s autumn concert Although only 25, Russian-born violinist Adelia Myslov already has a substantial repertoire. But on Saturday she…
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"…it was generally impossible to tell that it wasn’t a fully-professional orchestra…"


Critic Jim Pritchard, writing for  the ‘Seen and Heard International’ website, was bowled over by  the concert performance of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in Saffron Walden on September 14th – including SASO’s impressive playing.  “This…
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"Rarely can I remember being so excited and…so emotionally drained"


Herts Advertiser critic John Manning was bowled over by Alissa Firsova’s thrilling performance of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto Rarely can I remember being so excited and at the same time so emotionally drained as I…
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"The whole concert was a delight…"


Geoff Ward, writing in the Herts Advertiser, awarded top marks to SASO’s ‘Orchestral Colours’ concert in May. The dynamic and enterprising conductor of the St Albans Symphony Orchestra, Bjorn Bantock, chose to showcase the various…
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Grand scheme of things for Symphony Orchestra


Herts Advertiser critic John Manning was “completely dazzled” at SASO’s Mendelssohn and Strauss concert on March 8th. When it comes to doing things on a grand scale German composer Richard Strauss certainly knew how. His tone…
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Movie music to see in the New Year


Music critic John Manning praises SASO’s “outstanding” New Year concert of  film music Although music from the movies may not be regarded as “classical” by some, it really follows in the long tradition of composers such as…
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‘A real tour de force’


SASO’s Festival Concert was by turns ‘powerful’ and ‘stunning’, says Herts Advertiser critic, John Manning There was something rather special about St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Gustav Holst’s popular Planets Suite on Saturday night. It…
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Orchestra in Seventh Heaven


Andrew Shepstone reviewed SASO’s ‘Beethoven’s Seventh’ concert for the Herts Advertiser. St Albans Symphony Orchestra continued their progression through the symphonies of Beethoven in their concert last night at St. Saviour’s with an energetic performance…
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