Composer: Tailleferre, Germaine (1892-1983)

A rare concerto and a familiar choral work anchor a Virginia Symphony concert that celebrates the French musical spirit.

Regeneration is currently at the heart of everything that goes on inside the beautifully preserved Charlton House. Built between 1607 and 1612 by Sir Adam Newton, the building and its grounds remain a fine example of Jacobean domestic architecture.

When I collected my ticket for this evening’s Late Mix concert in Hall Two of The Sage Gateshead, I was somewhat surprised to see it marked as unreserved seating. A computer glitch, I thought, until I walked into the hall and found that the usual rows of seats in this small, in-the-round auditorium had been replaced with café-style tables and chairs.