REVIEW: Cirencester Philharmonia Orchestra

THE Bingham Hall was the venue for the Cirencester Philharmonia Orchestra’s Spring Concert on Saturday, April 29.

Over 80 supporters and classical music enthusiasts were truly appreciative of the music performed and of the skill and ability to entertain.

Praise should be given to all who made this a truly enjoyable evening, to the Orchestra and to the audience for showing their continued support and encouragement.

The concert began with Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and continued with lively works by Handel, Dvorak and Herold, and a more serene and reflective piece by Edward Elgar, before returning to Felix Mendelssohn and his Symphony No.4 also known as his “Italian” Symphony.

The courage of the Director, the Leader and the players in tackling challenging works shows that the orchestra is on a path of development for which they should be proud and for which Cirencester and the Cotswolds can and should show increasing support.

This support can be by way of coming to the concerts and enjoying the music or by encouraging talented musicians to the orchestra’s ranks.

They are always looking out for new members, but at the moment and in order to achieve balance they are especially in need of those who play stringed instruments, violins, violas, cellos and basses.

Cirencester Philharmonia was formed in 2007 and is based in Cirencester, but it welcomes members who are drawn from across our region.

They perform two concerts each year and the next one will be at St. Peter’s Church Stratton and is on Saturday, October 14. Please put the date in your diary.

The Leader is Emily Thomas, who was educated at Deer Park School, and now lives locally again having gone away and gained a First Class Honours Degree from Trinity College School of Music. She now teaches violin and piano.

The Orchestra’s Director and Conductor is Ian Higginson. Cirencester Philharmonia is one of his many areas of musical interest as an orchestra “in development”.

By this current performance he should be encouraged that his efforts are bearing fruit.

Ian is currently Director of Music and Organist at the Gloucestershire University, composer in residence and tutor at St. Edward’s School in Cheltenham. He is also Conductor of the Jubilate Chamber Choir and the Cheltenham Choral Society and the English Concertante Orchestra.

Cirencester Philharmonia’s website and contact details are www.cirencesterphil.co.uk and enquiries@cirencesterphil.co.uk

Review by Charles Stevens