Summer Concert

The Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra – conductor Dan Watson

Saturday June 13th at 2.30 pm in Pershore Abbey

The highlight of WPO’s Summer Concert is Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.
This much loved work, was Mozart’s last but one to be completed, and is often considered his Swan Song. It was composed for the virtuoso soloist of the day and we are delighted to welcome George Blakesley, an exciting young artist as soloist for this performance.

In 2020, despite the pandemic, George embarked on a Master’s of Music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. This included training with the CBSO wind section. After winning a scholarship at the Royal Northern College of Music, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma. As well as freelancing with the Hallé Orchestra and Opera North, George joined the Sound World Group in Bristol, a brand-new contemporary music ensemble dedicated to performing accessible contemporary music concerts in the South West. Presenting classical music in an accessible way is part of his wider passion in music education

The myths and magic element of our programme are represented by Mendelssohn’s overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Weber’s overture to Oberon. Works were both inspired by Shakespeare’s masterpiece. The music brilliantly evokes the imaginary world of the enchanted forest where the play is set.

Mendelssohn’s 5th Symphony was completed in 1830 for inclusion in the 300th anniversary festivities of key event of the Protestant Reformation. However, he missed the deadline and it wasn’t played then. The symphony was not published until 1868, twenty years after his death. It was his sister Fanny, who named it the Reformation Symphony

Dan Watson, the WPO’s inspirational music director will conduct this popular programme.

Tickets £17 (Under 16s, £5) available from Tourist Offices Worcester/Pershore*/Malvern (*cash only) or worcesterphilharmonicorchestra.ticketsource.co.uk