Malvern’s Chandos Orchestra will celebrate 35 years with special performance

Chandos Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 35th birthday this November.

Lee Bissett, soprano as Sieglinde in Die Walkure (Image: Archant)

Formed in 1978, originally as a modest chamber orchestra, Chandos has grown into an amateur symphony orchestra with over one hundred members. Players are principally from Worcestershire, but a number of members travel substantial distances to play in Malvern’s own fine amateur orchestra; one of the main reasons being the conductor and music director, Michael Lloyd.

Debbie McCoshan and 2nd violins (Image: Archant)

This is Michael Lloyd’s 25th season with Chandos. He said: “the commitment and enthusiasm of Chandos instrumentalists to tackle interesting and challenging programmes - appreciated and enjoyed by Malvern audiences - has forged an enduring musical relationship between us.”

Helen Merret, horn (Image: Archant)

Michael Lloyd is an international opera, ballet and symphonic conductor; fifteen years experience at English National Opera under his belt is undoubtedly one of the reasons he chose to make opera the focus of the orchestra’s special birthday concert. Appropriately, 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Verdi and Wagner, two of opera’s most admired composers.

To mark the event, Chandos has invited a trio of professional opera singers: Lee Bissett, soprano; John Llewlleyn Evans, tenor; and Julian Close, bass to give a special live performance at Malvern Theatre on Sunday November 24.

Spokeperson Linda Fowler said: “This is definitely going to be a night to remember! An inspiring mixture of ballet and orchestral music, plus the whole of Act 1 of Die Walküre (The Valkyries) is really something special. We’re hoping for a great turnout from our enthusiastic Malvern audience.”

Tickets from £10-14, child half price, + concessions are available online at: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

or via the box office in person or by calling: 01684 892277

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Listing details

Sunday November 24, 2013, from 7:45pm

Venue:

The Forum Theatre,

Grange Road,

Malvern,

Worcestershire,

WR14 3HB

Michael Lloyd conductor

Lee Bissett soprano (as Sieglinde)

John Lewellyn Evans tenor (as Siegmund)

Julian Close bass baritone (as Hunding)

Chandos Symphony Orchestra, leader Catalin Chelaru.

Programme

Verdi: Overture, the Force of Destiny; Ballet Music from Macbeth; aria from Simon Boccanegra “Il Lacerato Spirito”; Wagner: Act 1 Die Walküre.