An exciting new season and 400th concert announced
The Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society has announced its 2023/2024 programme with Early Bird Membership renewals and bookings currently available and public booking due to open on Friday, 1 September. The first concert sees the Hallé perform in Kendal at the end of September and the season closes next May with Ulverston-born saxophonist, Jess Gillam performing with Royal Northern Sinfonia.
“It’s an exciting season ahead,” says Chair of Trustees, Charles Fox, “with not only the Hallé and Royal Northern Sinfonia visiting Kendal but also Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia too. The Chorus is marking 50 years in 2023 so we’re delighted to be part of that celebration. We’re thrilled to have these visitors, but I am sure that our own Lakeland Sinfonia will be just as popular, with an evening of Beethoven in March 2024 and a celebratory programme of Mozart, Rossini and Bizet in November for our 400th concert.”
The season is launched on Saturday, 30 September with a visit by the Hallé, conducted by Alpesh Chauhan and with piano soloist, Pavel Kolesnikov. The programme includes Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.
Royal Northern Sinfonia will give four concerts in the season: a programme of choral music, including Mozart’s Requiem, on Saturday, 21 October; the Christmas by Candlelight concert in Kendal Parish Church on Saturday, 2 December; a programme that includes pieces by both Schumann’s, Robert and Clara, on Saturday, 17 February; and the finale to the season with Jess Gillam performing Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto on Saturday, 11 May.
After a tremendous concert in April to close last season, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra return to Kendal in April 2024. The orchestra will be conducted by Andrew Manze and with Johan Dalene performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in a programme that also includes Gipps’ Song for Orchestra and Borodin’s Symphony No. 2.
“The ongoing support from the new Westmorland and Furness Council makes a valuable contribution to Lakeland Sinfonia,” says Charles Fox, “and we are very grateful for the financial support. Box Office income from ticket sales simply doesn’t cover all the costs of bringing these wonderful orchestras and exceptional conductors and soloists to Kendal so we are very fortunate to have received additional funding to make the concerts possible.”
For the 2023/2024 season, the Trustees of Lakeland Sinfonia have also worked with the two venues, Kendal Parish Church and the Westmorland Hall of Kendal Leisure Centre, to create mid-priced options.
“We appreciate that concert tickets are a luxury item for many people and, at present, spending is under pressure for everyone,” says Charles. “With the new mid-priced options and the continuation of our £5 ticket offer for young music lovers – under 19s and full-time students – we hope to make our concerts as accessible as possible.”
“To have orchestras and soloists of this calibre performing in Kendal is a real privilege. We hope that as many local people as possible will buy tickets and let others know about our concerts. We want to enjoy great music for many years to come and celebrate our 500th concert some time in 2036!”
Full details of the new season are available at Season Ahead – Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society
