Andrew Watkinson to lead Lancashire Sinfonietta’s Christmas Candlelight Concertos

By Lancashire Life on December 6th 2011

Star of the Endellion String Quartet, Andrew Watkinson, directs his selection of music, including magical performances for the flute, harp and strings at the Lancashire Sinfonietta’s Christmas Candlelight Concertos in St Annes, Lancaster and Burnley.

The combination of an intimate venue, candlelight and the outstanding professional musicians proved such a success last year that the Christmas Candlelight Concertos have returned with a new line-up.

Andrew Watkinson is best known for being Orchestra Director with the City of London Sinfonia for over fifteen years and leading the famous Endellion String Quartet with whom he has given almost 2,000 concerts all over the world.  Watkinson has led or directed almost all of London’s chamber orchestras including the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players , the London Sinfonietta, and for a period he held the position of Associate Leader and Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

The soloists for the evening will be harpist Eleanor Hudson and Sarah Whewell the Sinfonietta’s principal flute player.

Established in 1996, the Lancashire Sinfonietta’s concert seasons are known for incorporating world-class directors, Lancastrian soloists and famous names alongside rising young talent.

Lancashire Sinfonietta’s members, originally from Lancashire, are drawn from orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, the Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Manchester Camerata and the European Union Chamber Orchestra. These home-grown musical champions return to the Sinfonietta to entertain, educate and inspire the next generation of talent. The orchestra is supported by Lancashire County Council.  

VIVALDI Concerto Grosso in D minor op3 no11
HANDEL Concerto for Harp, Op.4, No.6 in B flat major
J.S.BACH Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV 1067
DEBUSSY Danses Sacree et profane 
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Fantasia on Greensleeves
MENDELSSOHN Sinfonia No.7 in D minor

St Annes

Thursday 8 December

United Reform Church, St George’s Road

Lancaster

Friday 9 December

Lancaster Cathedral, Balmoral Road

Burnley

Saturday 10 December

St Peter’s Church, Church Street

Times: 7.30pm / Tickets: £13.00 (£9.50 conc, students & under18’s £5.50)

Box office: 01524 594151, www.lancs-sinf.com

Discounts for online booking

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