The Orchestra of St John’s has really pulled it out of the bag this year, after revealing its autumn concert line-up, with some stunning concerts, big names and world premieres to enjoy.
Setting the standards high from the off, the WORLD PREMIERE of Simon Proctor‘s new ‘Concerto for Sackbut and Orchestra’ hits Dorchester Abbey on Sunday (September 21), to continue OSJ’s tradition of supporting new music The concerto will be accompanied by Tchaikovsky‘s beloved masterpiece Symphony no 5 and Elgar’s Lux Aeterna, with soloist Emily White performing alongside OSJ Voices. Book here https://www.osj.org.uk/osjevent/tchaikovsky-7pm-at-dorchester-abbey/
The excitement continues to build on Saturday October 4 at Dorchester Abbey with Mozart‘s two sublime choral works from 1780 (Laudate Dominum) and 1791 (Ave Verum), alongside Ch’io mi scordi di te from 1786, featuring soprano soloist Hannah Davey. Pianist Rupert Egerton-Smith, OSJ’s artist-in-residence, has also chosen the ‘Jeunehomme’ concerto, followed by Symphony 29 from 1774, a high point in Mozart’s early symphonic writing. https://www.osj.org.uk/osjevent/mozart-7pm-at-dorchester-abbey/
Bach meets Handel on Sunday 12 October for OSJ’s traditional lunchtime concert at New House in Hanney, where guests can expect a charming afternoon of intimate music, delicious food and wonderful company. Join hosts Robert and Caroline Jackson at this fundraising afternoon where Bach’s Trio Sonata in C major, Handel ‘s Violin Sonata in D major op1 no13, Bach’s Violin Sonata in B minor, Nigel Treherne Salome’s Dance, Handel’s Trio Sonata in B flat major and Caroline Shaw’s Boris Kerner will be performed by soloists Howard Moody, Jan Schmolck, Sally Pendlebury and Chris O’Neal. £80 for lunch and concert. Book here: https://www.osj.org.uk/osjevent/bach-meets-handel-concert-with-lunch-at-new-house/
And then on Saturday November 15 famous pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason (see main pic) joins soprano Suzzie Vango, tenor Dominic Bevan and bassus Alex Jones to bring you Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and Piano concerto in G, plus Stravinsky’s Pulcinella complete. The Mother Goose Suite was originally written as a piano duet and later orchestrated to bring to life the magical world of fairy tales. The Piano Concerto in G – jazzy, virtuosic and fast moving – shows the influence of Ravel’s time in America from 1927-28, while Pulcinella marks a shift in Stravinsky’s musical thinking at the end of WW1. All at Dorchester Abbey. Book here https://www.osj.org.uk/osjevent/ravel-and-stravinsky-with-jeneba-kanneh-mason-7pm-at-dorchester-abbey/
Impatient to get going, and excited with 2025’s autumn offering, John Lubbock, OSJ’s Founder and Artistic Director, says: “This orchestra is a different breed. It is visceral, real, it’s people wanting to be there – and that comes across in spades when we play.”
For further OSJ info, season tickets and to book go to https://www.osj.org.uk/forthcoming-concerts/
