Orchestra to present valentine concert

Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra will be performing the third concert of their 64th season with popular Spanish conductor Juan Ortuño.

Ray Bulpitt, Publicity Manager at Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra, said "This valentine program will feature two of the great love-themed works, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture and the Prelude and Liebestod from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. The program will also include Rachmaninov's ripely romantic second symphony which contrasts passion and excitement with one of the most lyrical slow movements in the repertoire."

Juan Ortuño is currently pursuing a Masters degree in conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, studying with Clark Rundell and Mark Shanahan. He frequently conducts the RNCM orchestras and ensembles as well as numerous symphony orchestras across Spain, Austria, and the United Kingdom.

Juan started music lessons in Madrid with his parents who were performers in the Spanish National Radio and Television Choir. Recently he has worked with the Spanish Youth Orchestra of Spain as guest conductor in a concert tour.

In 2006, he was selected to take part in the young conductors' project of the Spanish Youth Orchestra (Joven Orquesta Nacional de España) and since then has continued working with them. Juan has also been awarded a scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue further studies in the UK.

The concert will take place on Saturday 12th February 2011 at 7.45pm in the Evans Theatre, Wilmslow Leisure Centre. Tickets, priced at £10, concessions £8, under 18s £2, are available from the ticket hotline on 01625 526 380, from Bang & Olufsen on 01625 527666 or at the door.

The Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1947 and is a large amateur orchestra aspiring to high musical standards. The group includes some accomplished players and performs an ambitious range of music. Concerts are held five times a year in the Evans Theatre, Wilmslow Leisure Centre. More information can be found at www.wilmsloworchestra.co.uk.