Farnborough Symphony Orchestra

Tickets: £13.50 / Student £6.75

Conductor: William Carslake
Soloist: Mimi Doulton (Soprano)

Tchaikovsky: Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet
Lutoslawski: Silesian Triptych
Lutoslawski: Lacrimosa
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

The FSO opens its 2024/25 season with an exciting programme of music from Russia and Poland. The opening work, Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet, is a dramatic symphonic poem depicting scenes from Shakespeare’s play. At its heart is the supreme contrast between the sword fighting of the Montagues and Capulets and the lyrical romance of the teenage Romeo and Juliet, which ultimately ends in tragedy.

Moving to the twentieth century, the works of Polish composer, Witold Lutoslawski were written in the context of the two world wars. Composed in 1951, his Silesian Triptych has its roots in the national folk art which had broad audience appeal in post-war Poland whilst the earlier (1937) Lacrimosa, originally written as part of a Requiem which was later abandonned, was performed frequently in Polish churches in the 1980s (as an arrangement for organ and soloist) during the turbulent martial law period. Both these works are scored for orchestra and soprano soloist and we are delighted and privileged to welcome Mimi Doulton to perform them with us. Recognised as “a name to watch“ (The Times, 2023), Mimi has recently made debuts at the Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre and at the Bamberger Symphoniker. She also has a special connection with the FSO as she is Hampshire born and bred, an alumnus of Farnborough Sixth Form College and the daughter of 3rd Horn player, Roger Doulton. We are looking forward with great anticipation to working with her.

The concert concludes with Dmitri Shostakovich’s richly-scored 5th Symphony. The Russian pianist and teacher, Heinrich Neuhaus, called the work “deep, meaningful, gripping music, classical in the integrity of its conception, perfect in form and the mastery of orchestral writing—music striking for its novelty and originality, but at the same time somehow hauntingly familiar, so truly and sincerely does it recount human feelings”. Why not join us to celebrate the start of our new season and to see if you agree?