May 10, 2026
3:00pm

Weber, Bruch, Verdi, Britten & Ravel

York Barbican Centre
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Programme

  • Weber - Overture to Der Freischütz
  • Bruch - Violin Concerto No.1
  • Verdi - Overture to La forza del destino
  • Britten - Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes
  • Ravel - La Valse

Violin: Bradley Creswick
Conductor: Simon Wright
Leader: Fiona Love

Our final concert in this season has a very full programme and will see us continue our celebration of the works of Weber, this time recognising his considerable input into the world of opera with the overture to one of his most popular works, Der Freischütz. Our soloist for this concert is the wonderful Bradley Creswick, leader emeritus of the Royal Northern Sinfonia; he will be playing the Bruch violin concerto No.1

The second half opens with a bang - Verdi's wonderful overture to his opera 'The Force of Destiny'; it sets a dramatic tone for the opera, encapsulating its themes of fate and tragedy.

It's been a whilst since the orchestra played any Benjamin Britten and we rectify this omission with the Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from his dramatic opera Peter Grimes; coincidentally, the Sea Pictures was one of the pieces that our Music Director, Simon conducted in his very first concert with the YGO over 30 years ago!

The concert concludes with an orchestral showpiece by Ravel; La Valse gives the various sections of the orchestra the opportunity to let their hair down and show off in this magnificent representation of the waltz and its gradual descent into chaos at the end; some say it is an allegorical reference to the state of Europe at the end of the first world war, although this was firmly denied by the composer. Whatever the case - it is a magnificent work for the orchestra to show off with and bring the season to a close.

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We will always endeavour to perform the concert as shown; however, should circumstances require, the orchestra reserves the right to amend the concert date, timing, concert programme, soloist and ticket pricing without prior notice.

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Soloist:
Bradley Creswick
Bradley Creswick
Violin
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Future Events

February 8, 2026
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The second concert in our 45th Season includes a work by Carl Maria von Weber in his bicentenary year. His second clarinet concerto will be performed one of the world's best clarinettists, Julian Bliss. The orchestra also revisits the world of Mahler with his hauntingly beautiful 5th Symphony..

October 11, 2026
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February 14, 2027
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Winter Concert

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May 16, 2027
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Spring Concert

The third concert in our 46th Season

October 10, 2027
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Autumn Concert

The first concert in our 47th season.

Where to find us

York Barbican

AdDress
Paragon Street
York
YO10 4AH