Cheltenham Town Hall: Main StageCheltenham, South-West, GL50 1QA, United Kingdom
Dates/times in London time zone
| Sunday 01 February 2026 | 15:00 |
Programme
| Sawyers, Philip (b. 1951) | Symphony no. 6, A Pastoral | |
| Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872-1958) | The Wasps: Overture | |
| Elgar, Sir Edward (1857-1934) | Violin Concerto in B minor, Op.61 |
Performers
| English Symphony Orchestra | |
| Kenneth Woods | Conductor |
| Zoë Beyers | Violin |
Many consider Elgar’s Violin Concerto to be his most personal & confessional piece. Despite its titanic virtuosic demands, it is not a showpiece, but an expression of the inner world of a great man at one of life’s turning points. Philip Sawyers also found himself at a turning point when he gave up his career as a violinist to pursue composition full time. His courage has been validated many times over as he has been repeatedly hailed as one of Britain’s greatest modern symphonists. His Sixth Symphony is a touching homage to another great Sixth Symphony, Beethoven’s Pastoral.
Full details of the English Symphony Orchestra’s Cheltenham Residency are to be found on Bachtrack or follow the website link.
© Bill Leighton