Category: Uncategorized
Orchestra’s “all-Scandinavian success story”
Herts Advertiser critic, Geoff Ward reviewing SASO’s May 9th concert writes that the orchestra has “improved immeasurably under their dynamic conductor, Bjorn Bantock” “The concert began with the popular Karelia Suite, which was Sibelius’s first commission for nationalist music. This was a very satisfying performance, especially by the brass section. There was a nice cor …
Grieg, Sibelius and Nielsen lead SASO’s Nordic spring celebration
Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto – popular even before Morecambe and Wise hilariously put “the right notes in the wrong order” – will provide the centrepiece of the St Albans Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert on Saturday May 9th, featuring favourite works by Scandinavian composers (7.30pm, St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL1 4DF). All joking …
Weekend workshop April 24/25th: Lutosławski: Concerto for Orchestra
Friday 24th April (7.30pm to 10pm) & Saturday 25th April (10.30am to 6pm) 2015 Townsend School, High Oaks, St Albans, AL3 6DR WEEKEND ORCHESTRAL WORKSHOP In memory of Babs Yule (1920-2010) Witold Lutosławski: CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA String, trumpet, tuba and percussion/keyboard players of a high standard (grade 7/8+) are invited to join St Albans Symphony …
SASO’s Beethoven “exciting and inspirational” says critic
Herts Advertiser critic, John Manning, believes SASO’s all-Beethoven concert was one of its best concerts ever. “With members of the Hertfordshire Chorus and other local choirs as well as a team of top class soloists, the orchestra and its conductor Bjorn Bantock produced an evening of music which must rate as one of the most …
‘Choral’ Symphony promises a rousing end to SASO’s Beethoven cycle
Beethoven’s ‘Choral’ Symphony – among the greatest and most uplifting of all classical compositions – comes to St Albans Cathedral on Saturday March 7th (7.30pm) in a double bill with another of his best-loved works, the Piano Concerto No 4. The performance by St Albans Symphony Orchestra is set to provide the rousing conclusion to …
“Passion in every note”: Rachmaninov at SASO’s New Year concert
Alissa Firsova’s performance of Rachmaninov’s ‘Paganini Rhapsody’ at SASO 2015 New Year Concert won high critical praise. According to John Manning, writing in the Herts Advertiser, she “breathed expression and feeling into every one of the set of variations” and worked with conductor Bjorn Bantock to achieve “a top-quality performance of the work.” Click here …
SASO raises more than £1,370 for charities
St Albans Symphony Orchestra collected more than £1,370 for charities over the Christmas and New Year period thanks to generosity of its audiences – and festive shoppers in the city centre. Before Christmas, the orchestra’s brass section, with friends from other bands, raised £488 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society by playing carols at the Clock …
SASO serves-up a winter warmer for New Year
Sleigh bells will jingle all the way when St Albans Symphony Orchestra bid a snowy welcome to 2015 at their traditional New Year Family Concert (7pm, Thursday January 1st, St Albans Abbey). The programme features no less than four musical sleigh rides, variously composed by Leopold Mozart (father of Wolfgang Amadeus), Serge Prokofiev, Frederick Delius …
Reviewer hails “dazzling” Korngold at SASO’s autumn concert
John Manning, reviewer for the Herts Advertiser, found the performance of Korngold’s Violin Concerto by 25-year old virtuoso Adelia Myslov with SASO “dazzling”, “fluent” and “full of expression” bringing tremendous life to an increasingly popular work. He also praised the “tremendous colour and depth” of SASO’s account of Sibelius’s Symphony No 1 under conductor, Bjorn …
Rising stars to shine at SASO’s autumn concert
An acclaimed young violin virtuoso takes centre stage at St Albans Symphony’s Orchestra’s autumn concert on Saturday 22nd November playing a concerto that is itself a rising star of the music world (7.30pm, St Saviour’s Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF). Adelia Myslov (25), a former student at Hertfordshire’s Purcell School for young musicians, will perform …
