Hastings Sinfonia – ‘a friendly inclusive orchestra’ playing on 28 January

Saturday night’s alright for . . Hastings Sinfonia

Hastings Sinfonia is now a well-established feature of the Hastings music season, presenting what they themselves describe as ‘popular, well-known classics together with some exciting new works giving a balanced programme suitable for everyone.’ At the end of this month they’re showcasing their talent with a winter concert at St John the Evangelist Church in St Leonards. Toby Sargent leafs through the programme.

I wasn’t living down here at the time of the last winter concert, so I’m very much looking forward to this. The combination of popular orchestral music and a 19th century Gothic Revival ecclesiastical setting – on a winter’s Saturday night – sounds pretty good to me.

Cracking night out

And if the concert – at 19.30 on 28 January – didn’t fall in ‘dry January,’ then the recipe for a cracking night out would be complete. But not to worry.

The first half is due to include a Wagner overture, the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto (Howard Southern, piano), the gorgeous Recondita Armonia from Puccini’s Tosca with Randy Nichol as tenor, and a rousing Dambusters March  to whet our appetites for the second half.

Thomasin Trezise – soprano

The second half will include the waltz from Masquerade Suite Aram by Khachaturian and the delightful Non So Piu Cosa Son from Mozart’s The Marriage Of Figaro, with Thomasin Trezise taking the soprano role.

Madame Butterfly

The concert will close with two of the most moving pieces in the popular classic repertoire. The first act duet from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly featuring Mr Nichol and Ms Trezise and, to finish, the finale from Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

If, like me, you’re not familiar with the Sinfonia and their approach to music-making, I can offer nothing better than their own description of what they do, and how they do it:

Polo Piatti – artistic director

‘The Hastings Sinfonia consists of local professional and talented amateur musicians, who meet twice a month throughout the year. The conductor is opera specialist Derek Carden, the leader is local professional violinist and teacher Peter Fields and our artistic director is Polo Piatti who writes fabulous new music for the Hastings Sinfonia to perform [some of which will be featured in this concert – TS].

‘The Hastings Sinfonia has built a reputation and loyal following for performing popular, well-known classics together with some exciting new works giving a balanced programme suitable for everyone. We are a friendly inclusive orchestra that values its members, our rehearsals are always enjoyable thanks to our enthusiastic, effervescent conductor Derek Carden.’

Hastings Sinfonia’s Winter Concert: St John the Evangelist Church, Brittany Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0RD, at 19.30 on Saturday 28 January. Tickets – £10 in advance or £12 at the door, children under 16 free (ticket required) – available from the Tourist Information Office, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings TN34 3UY, TicketSource booking line 0333 666 3366 or online.

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