As we finally emerge from the darkness of the various Greek letters that have overshadowed music-making for a while now, come and celebrate with us as we contemplate a new world of spring with the clear, invigorating air of Sibelius and the warm glow of Richard Strauss.

We start with Finlandia, which Sibelius aptly subtitled “Happy Feelings at the Awakening of the Finnish Spring”, with his poignant hymn of devotion to his homeland at its heart - the “Land of Hope and Glory” for Finns, one and all.

Keeping to our commitment of encouraging outstanding young talent, we are delighted to be welcoming Brazilian oboist Layla Baratto who has been winning prize after prize even before she has left the Royal College of Music. She will be performing Strauss’s concerto, written for an American corporal who was stationed in Germany at the end of the 1939-45 war and met Strauss - this corporal happened to be the principal oboist of the Pittsburgh Orchestra. In what turned out to be a golden summer for the composer, his concerto is a melodious, dance-like paean to the instrument, exploiting the full range of its colours and possibilities. Forget Albinoni, Strauss is your man!

Sibelius always challenges in terms of rhythm and power but also in terms of his huge range of emotion and beauty.  His second symphony is no exception. He started it while he was in Rapallo in Italy with further sketches inspired by his time in Florence - a nice connection with our Italian maestro Claudio Di Meo. However, you will hear the whole gamut of Finnish landscapes, its heart, its patriotic pride - remember Sibelius composed this symphony when his language and culture were under threat from the Russian Tsar - mixed in with an overwhelming vastness of emotion that culminates in a rousing climax, like no other.

 So come and be shaken out of your winter torpor and be stirred to face a new dawn!

Click here for tickets!

 It would be great to see you there.