Local Music Scene

The nights are drawing in and for many of us this signals the start of the new classical music season.

Leicester has an astonishing range and variety of musical ensembles (choirs, orchestras and so on) many of which produce performances of an extraordinarily high standard.

We are in danger of missing the fact that music lovers are living through a golden age.

For a start we are lucky to have one of the world's great orchestras in residence at the De Montfort Hall.

The Philharmonia is entering its 11th season bringing with them soloists and conductors of international renown.

I'm looking forward to Paavo Jarvi's concert on 03 February 2008 when he will be conducting Dvorak's Cello Concerto (soloist Steven Isserlis) and Sibelius's warm blooded, gloriously romantic Symphony no. 2.

Friday 02 June gives us the chance to see the sensationally charismatic Gustavo Dudamel conduct a Shostakovich masterpiece, the Symphony no. 5.

Anyone who saw Dudamel at this year's Proms or who caught him with the Philharmonia last season knows what a magnetic musician this young man is.

De Montfort Hall, Leicester

Non-Professional Orchestras

Let us not forget our non-professional orchestras like the Bardi and the Leicester Symphony Orchestra. I'm looking forward to the Vaughan Williams anniversary concert given by the former under their founder Andrew Constantine on 02 February 2008 and the L.S.O.'s concert on 17 November which includes Holst's ever popular The Planets is a must.

Both orchestras perform at the De Montfort Hall.

Other local non-professional orchestras include the Helix Ensemble, the Charnwood Orchestra and the Oadby and Wigston Civic Orchestra and the Rutland Sinfonia.

Choirs

There are too many excellent choirs to mention but I am looking forward to three concerts in particular.

On 15 December at the Leicester Cathedral the Leicester Bach Choir is performing Christmas music including Vaughan Williams' cherishable Fantasia on Christmas Carols. 

The Leicester Philharmonic Choir offers Passiontide music including Faure's meltingly beautiful Requiem on 15 March 2008 at St. James the Greater.

Meanwhile the Leicestershire Chorale is performing a concert in St. Mary's Parish Church, Melton Mowbray on on 21 June called 'Sacred and Profane - The English Choral Heritage' This will consist of short masterpieces by composers from Elizabethan times to the present.

I've just scratched the surface. Over the autumn and winter there will be countless concerts all over the county and Rutland to suit everyone's musical palate.

Get out and enjoy live music!