1. great intensity of feeling or belief; ardour; zeal
2. Rare intense heat

For our third concert this season, we say goodbye to Winter and welcome in the Spring.

Under the direction of our Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Sadaharu Muramatsu, we start our concert with the rousing Zampa Overture by Hérold. As a special treat, we are joined by Nick Byrne on the Ophicleide. This period instrument is part of the brass family and is the ancestor of the modern Tuba. In the hands of virtuoso Nick Byrne, who will also perform a solo piece with the orchestra, it will amaze you with its lyrical beauty and agility.

Next we add some dreams with the Havanaise by Saint-Saëns and introduce our renowned soloist Anna McMichael on violin. If you don’t know it by name, you will certainly recognise this melting tune based on the Spanish habanera rhythm. Anna will also perform the delightful Eastern European folk tunes in Bartok’s Rhapsody No. 1 to round off the first half of our programme.

After interval, we close our concert with the nationalistic fervour of Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, instrumental in lifting the Russian yoke from Finland, and the most popular of Sibelius’ symphonies.

Read the Concert Program

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