Symphony Orchestra Celebrates New Beginnings With Live Concert

/in , , , , , /by

Henley Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce that, for the first time in over a year  ̶  Covid measures permitting  ̶  it will be presenting a live concert at Christ Church, Henley, on Saturday 3 July at 7pm. Please join us to celebrate these new beginnings. The programme includes:

  • Variations on a Theme by Haydn –  Brahms
  • Three arias for soprano and orchestra featuring local young singer Elenor Vockins
  • Symphony in C –  Bizet

Covid-19 regulations of course mean that capacity in the church will be more limited than usual – although if the government roadmap continues to be successful it is possible that we may be able to release more tickets after 21 June – so it is worth checking availability before making payment.

Tickets will be posted out within two working days of receipt of payment or can be held for collection on the day. Tickets are £15 (£8 for under-16s and students), seats unreserved, and are available from members of the orchestra, HSO box office 01235 859210 or via www.henleysymphonyorchestra.co.uk .

The HSO is celebrating its 51st season with renewed enthusiasm after more than a year of enforced silence. Under the guidance of its Music Director, Ian Brown, and led by David Burton, HSO is one of the leading amateur orchestras in the Thames Valley, attracting some 60 players from the area. In normal times it promotes an annual series of four concerts featuring internationally acclaimed artists, and it also show-cases young talent from the area. As well as performing locally in and around Henley and Reading, HSO has given performances in Henley’s twin towns of Falaise in France and Leichlingen in Germany and also at the Bled International Music Festival in Slovenia.

Elenor Vockins joins the orchestra to perform three opera arias:

  • O mio babbino caro –  Puccini
  • Song to the Moon – Dvořák
  • Poor Wandering One – Gilbert and Sullivan

Elenor discovered her love for singing when she joined the Henley Youth Choir in 2017. She made her debut as a soloist in the Wallingford Winter Recitals in 2018, accompanied by Henley pianist Anita D’Atellis. Soon after, Elenor was invited to sing in the 2018 Chiltern Arts Festival and then with the Aliquando Chamber Choir in 2019 in their performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Elenor sang in the Garsington Opera Youth Company summer productions of Eliza and the Swans in 2018 and The Happy Princess in 2019. Since 2018 she has performed every year at the Henley Youth Festival and received the Elizabeth Griffin Award in 2020. In autumn this year, Elenor will begin an undergraduate degree to read German and Italian and has future plans to study singing at a conservatoire.