SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER 2011 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
DIMENSION TRIO
Rafal Zambrzycki-Payne violin
Thomas Carroll cello
Anthony Hewitt piano
BEETHOVEN Overture Fidelio
BEETHOVEN Triple Concerto op 56 in C major
BRAHMS Symphony no 4 op 98 in E minor

Our opening concert of the season is a traditional programme featuring the overture Beethoven eventually chose for Fidelio after the three attempts now known as the Leonora Overtures, one of Beethoven’s most unusual and moving concertos in which we welcome back members of Dimension Trio, and concludes with Brahms's dramatic and passionate last symphony in which he both paraphrases Bach and nods at the ‘chaconne’ form with its repetitive bass theme.

SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER 2011 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Alun Darbyshire oboe
Christine Messiter flute
HAYDN Symphony no 82 in C (Bear)
ALBINONI Oboe Concerto
VIVALDI Double Concerto for Oboe and Flute
MOZART Symphony no 41 in C major K551 (Jupiter)

In our salute to the Brighton Early Music Festival (happening concurrently) we feature the early development of the symphonic and concerto forms.  The concerto form originated and developed in Italy as here demonstrated by exponents Vivaldi and Albinoni.  We highlight as soloists our Principal Oboe Alun Darbyshire and Principal Flute Christine Messiter. The development of the symphony is given prominence through Haydn’s rarely heard middle period Bear and the last of Mozart’s Symphonies Jupiter  possibly the seminal work of the 18th century.

SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2011 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Brighton Festival Chorus
Rachel Nicholls soprano
Carolyn Dobbin mezzo
Michael Bracegirdle tenor
Paul Reeves bass
VERDI Messa di Requiem

In this concert for Remembrance Sunday, the magnificent and operatic Requiem of Verdi is the vehicle to welcome back Brighton Festival Chorus and a distinguished team of soloists. Powerful rhythmic impulses, strong melodic lines and dramatic contrasts together with the unforgettable and potent Dies Irae make this a compelling live experience to send shivers down your spine.

SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2011 2.45pm

Stephen Bell conductor
Martin Owen horn
MOZART Overture La Finta Giardiniera (K196)
MOZART Horn Concerto no 4 K495 in E flat major
BRUCKNER Symphony no 8 in C minor

A concert of contrasts with a simple and early overture of Mozart written when he was eighteen, and his wonderfully boisterous fourth Horn concerto much beloved for its tuneful final movement. We are delighted to welcome Martin Owen  a supreme exponent of his art across orchestral, chamber and solo disciplines and currently principal of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  Then in conclusion, the dramatic  intensity, complex melodies and climactic harmonies of the Eighth Symphony of Bruckner one of the most powerful works of the symphonic repertoire. Stephen Bell, a favourite with Brighton audiences returns to the podium for this enormous work.  Having studied under Bruckner specialists Norman del Mar and Gunther Wand he is well equipped to direct this monumental and beautiful work.

SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 2011 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Evelina Puzaite piano
HUMPERDINK Prelude to Hansel and Gretel
DOHNÁNYI Variations on the Nusery song op 25
TCHAIKOVSKY Extended Suite from Swan Lake

In this seasonal programme, one of the world’s greatest ballet conductors conducts his own personally selected suite from one of the world’s greatest ballets. And if that isn’t enough to tempt you, we have the familiar and tuneful prelude to a story of witches, gingerbread houses and sandmen and the musical hilarity of one of biggest orchestral introductions to Twinkle twinkle little star you’re ever likely to come across!

SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER 2011 2.45pm

John Bradbury Concertmaster
New Year's Eve Viennese Gala with soloists from the Principals of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra

The end of year celebrations begin in many minds with the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra’s traditional Viennese Concert.  This year the concert will return to a concert style with which the Strauss family themselves would have been very familiar.  The orchestra will be led in authentic Viennese style from the violin by Concertmaster John Bradbury who will also introduce the programme from the podium.  In additional to familiar classics such as the Blue Danube Waltz and the Radetzky March the afternoon will include a bouquet of waltzes, polkas and quadrilles alongside some spectacular solo instrumental showpieces featuring our orchestral Principals. This is a fund-raising concert for the John Carewe Brighton Orchestra Trust supporting the BPO

SUNDAY 15 JANUARY 2012 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Musicians of the Yehudi Menuhin School
BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
MOZART Sinfonia Concertante K364 E flat
BRITTEN Matinée Musicales op 24 or Soiree Musicales op 9
BRITTEN Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra op 34

Benjamin Britten was President of Brighton Philharmonic from 1958 - 1966 and here we commemorate his work in anticipation of his centenary in 2013 with a concert presenting the many faceted aspects of his genius:- as a composer through Four Sea Interludes, as a performer and viola player through his favourite concerto K364; his arranging and pragmatic musicianship through the Rossini adaptations; and his educative skills and contribution to the early music movement in the Young Persons Guide and in particular its use of a theme of Purcell. We welcome to the platform two stunningly talented members of the Yehudi Menuhin School to join the orchestra in the Sinfonia Concertante.

SUNDAY 29 JANUARY 2012 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Vasko Vassilev violin
ROSSINI Overture William Tell
SARASATE Carmen Fantasy on themes of Bizet op 25
SARASATE Ziegeunewisen (Gypsy Airs)
SULLIVAN (arr Mackerras) Pineapple Poll

In programme that pays tribute to our connections with the Royal Opera House Vasko Vassilev Concertmaster the ROH joins us for two virtuosic showpieces for violin composed by Spainish born Sarsate. We feature one of the best known operatic overtures and the ballet Pineapple Poll, based on a quick romp around Arthur Sullivan’s music for HMS Pinafore, Cox and Box and Overture di ballo as arranged and adapted by the late great Charles Mackerras.

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2012 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Craig Ogden guitar
CHABRIER Espana
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
BIZET Orchestral Suite from Carmen
DEBUSSY Petite Suite
NIGEL WESTLAKE Shadow Dances for Cuitar
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio Espagnol

A programme celebrating Spain, the glorious sunshine and the music and dance forms it inspires. There are the alborado, the fandango and flamenco songs as interpreted by a Russian, Spanish popular airs through the ears of a Frenchman and the fragrances of a garden and the evocative sounds of nature from a native Spaniard who, while a pianist, seems to capture the very soul of the guitar in his music. Craig Ogden one of Britians favourite performers completes the programme with a work from his native Australia.

SUNDAY 4 MARCH 2012 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
Robert Cohen cello
BAX Tintagel
ELGAR Concerto for cello op 85 in E minor
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Norfolk Rhapsody
DVOŘÁK Symphony no 8 OP 88 in G major

A programme including musical portraits of England and Hungary. This programme includes a work from Bax (a great supporter of and attender at BPO concerts in the thirties) evoking the stormy Atlantic seas and rugged cliffs of Cornwall. We also include a work from our Audience Choice - one of the many musical works by Vaughan Williams was inspired to write after his exploration and collection of native regional folk song in England. We also include one of the most famous and moving works in the repertoire and written in deepest Sussex – the Elgar cello concerto and finally the Dance like eighth symphony of Dvorak.

SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2012 2.45pm

Barry Wordsworth conductor
John Lill piano
DEBUSSY Prelude a L'Apres midi d'une Faune
RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto no 3 op 30 in D minor
BERLIOZ Symphony fantastique op 14

In a sensuous final concert of the season we explore the sleepy afternoon musings of a faune, one of the most physically demanding of piano concertos and the exciting and passionate love-token of a smitten composer for his beloved. Our soloist is one of Brighton's favourites - our current President and eminent piano virtuoso John Lill.