2023 sees Hallam Sinfonia reaching its half-century and there is much to celebrate. With ‘normal service’ post-pandemic resumed during the 2022-23 season, we are now looking forward to getting to know our new Musical Director Jon Malaxetxebarria and starting to plan for the next 50 years!
The birthday concert will conclude an eventful anniversary year, and will be Jon’s first with the orchestra since he was appointed, though he did conduct a pair of concerts under Covid restrictions in 2021. The final work in the programme, the fourth symphony of Brahms, however, saw three rehearsals with Jon during the fateful month of March 2020. Players are looking forward to picking up where they left off!
The other works in the programme look backwards and forwards respectively. Beethoven’s first symphony was programmed in the very first Hallam Sinfonia concert in 1973 and most recently played ten years ago under Natalia Luis-Bassa as part of her Beethoven cycle with the orchestra. The opening work is a birthday commission, a fanfare entitled ‘Shining Dawn’. The composer is a member of the orchestra, Benjamin Jackson, which makes for even more of a special occasion. Watch this space for more about Benjamin shortly.
We are hoping to reach out to former players, especially any founder members (yes we do have two still playing with us). If you have a historical connection with the orchestra, do
please get in touch. If you don’t, come to the concert anyway and help us celebrate in style.
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