The public got it right, as usual, when it recently chose Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending as its favourite classical piece. This verdantly English piece of loveliness is just the ideal piece for Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra's Spring Concert on 7 June, which brings another successful season to a close.
The Lark Ascending gives our leader Jem Bradley a chance to shine. Active in Skipton Camerata and his own Musica Nova group, Jem is a busy freelance violinist known throughout the Northwest, and we are proud to have him as leader of our orchestra.
Another piece on the programme has links to the news – Tchaikovsky's 'Little Russian' symphony quotes three Ukrainian folksongs, though the complex history of Russia and 'Little Russia', as it was often called in the nineteenth century, needn't disturb listeners to this most tuneful of Tchaikovsky symphonies, the one which most clearly reminds us that he was the greatest of all composers for the ballet.
There's a national flavour of a different kind about the first piece, Land of the Mountain and the Flood, 19th century composer Hamish McCunn's stirring evocation of his native Scotland.
As always, the concert will be in the Evans Theatre in Wilmslow Leisure Centre. To anyone unfamiliar with this venue, we would like to point out that it has substantial free parking – something venues in Manchester City Centre can't offer – as well as easy access for patrons with restricted mobility; the hall is a good size, big enough for the orchestra but intimate as well; the raked seating means that everyone can see well as well as hear well; and the sound is wonderfully clear and immediate. As players, we feel we're really with the audience: so we hope we will be with you too on the evening of Saturday 7th June at 7.45 pm.
The concert takes place at 7.45pm on Saturday 7 June, in the Evans Theatre, Wilmslow Leisure Centre.
Tickets cost £10 and can be bought at the door, or through the ticket hotline on 01925 756144, or through the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra website, or (in person) at Bang & Olufsen in Wilmslow.
Member post by Dermot Gault.
