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"An ensemble of real distinction that plays with passion and enthusiasm"
The Leicester Mercury
"beautifully phrased. The Leicester Symphony Orchestra gave a wonderful performance"
The Leicester Mercury
Click here to hear the orchestra under the baton of Roland Melia playing part of the Carmen Suite No 1 by Bizet.
Appointment
The Leicester Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce that John Andrews has been appointed as their new conductor.
Vacancies
Click here to see the latest vacancies in the orchestra.
Composers' Competition
To celebrate its 90th Season in 2012/2013 the Leicester Symphony Orchestra is holding a Composers' Competition. The winning piece will be played at the first concert of the Anniversary season.
Please click here to read full details of the Composers' Competition
Leicester Symphony Orchestra 89th season, 2011/2012
A unique programme of music influenced by World War I opens the season. After being commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to write a score for the poignant 1916 film Battle of the Somme, contemporary British composer Laura Rossi's work will be performed to accompany a screening of the film. Butterworth's Banks of Green Willow is a piece that has come to represent war's unknown soldiers, whilst Ravel's orchestration of his own Le Tombeau de Couperin is music dedicated to fallen friends who fought in the Great War.
The Orchestra's February concert features Berlioz's lavish Symphonie Fantastique, a musical depiction of a series of hallucinations. From a ballroom dance to a witches' Sabbath, each one vividly represents the composer's contrasting visions. Max Bruch's Violin Concerto is always an audience favourite, here expertly performed by David Le Page. Gustav Holst's ballet suite The Perfect Fool is an energetic but jovial opening to the concert.
The season concludes with an exciting programme in which the Orchestra is joined by soprano Eva Ganizate to perform a selection of songs and arias; including pieces by Delibes, Massenet and Rachmaninov. The Orchestra also performs Elgar's popular Froissart Overture along with some of the many highlights from Bizet's opera Carmen. It is then left for Dvorak's spirited eighth symphony to round off a thrilling concert.
The Orchestra
The Leicester Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1922 by Sir Malcolm Sargent, then a local parish organist and chorus master. The orchestra continues the Sargent tradition of recruiting talented local players and bringing to Leicester soloists of international calibre and fame, to give the people of Leicester symphonic music of the highest possible standard. Each year it performs three concerts at its regular venue, the De Montfort Hall in Leicester, and is available for others.
The LSO is a registered charity and relies solely on income from ticket sales, members' subscriptions, Friends of the LSO, Patrons, and sponsorship from Sheehan's Music Services and Timothy Batchelar Stringed Instruments, to ensure that the long and fine tradition of music making established by Sir Malcolm Sargent continues. It receives no public funding apart from occasional grants for special projects. You can assist us this season by coming to our concerts in the De Montfort Hall, and by becoming a subscriber, Friend or Patron.
Last updated January 23rd 2012
