Brighton Philharmonic play their socks off at the Brighton Festival

By Nick Boston, 18 May 2026

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“flutes and piccolos screamed the D-S-C-H motto”

Reviewed at Brighton Dome, Concert Hall, Brighton on 17 May 2026

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 10 in E minor, Op.93

William Kentridge, Director

Joanna MacGregor, Conductor

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra

Johnston’s Tavener the highlight for the Brighton Philharmonic

Nick Boston, 29th March

Warm Vaughan Williams and energetic Richter and Vivaldi from MacGregor and the BPO strings, with an astonishing performance of Tavener’s The Protecting Veil from Guy Johnston the highlight.

****1

A golden Turangalîla to celebrate the Brighton Philharmonic’s 100th

Nick Boston, 13th April

Joanna MacGregor and the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra bring their 100th season to a triumphant conclusion at the Brighton Dome.

****1

Blazing Bruckner in Brighton

Ken Ward, 27th November

After the overture, whose two movements, fast and slow, were adequately dispatched by a suitably small orchestra, the audience mistook the arrival of an orchestral horn player as that of the soloist himself, and burst into applause, which turned to laughter as the mistake became obvious.

A golden Turangalîla to celebrate the Brighton Philharmonic’s 100th

Nick Boston, 13th April

Joanna MacGregor and the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra bring their 100th season to a triumphant conclusion at the Brighton Dome.

****1

Joanna MacGregor's Exotic Birds a highlight in Auckland

Simon Holden, 27th March

Joanna MacGregor's 'Exotic Birds', in an imaginatively programmed Auckland Philharmonia concert, gets our reviewer all aflutter.

***11

Looking Forward with Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican

Paul Kilbey, 27th October

Pleasantly enough, Britten Sinfonia went down a thoroughly unconventional route in celebrating their 20th birthday at the Barbican on Saturday, with a brilliantly varied range of new pieces mixing with chamber orchestra classics.

****1

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Nick Boston

Nick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here.