Last symphony for Durham’s orchestra
May 16 2009 by David Whetstone, The Journal
THE Durham Sinfonia will perform under that name for the last time this evening in what promises to be a special concert in several senses.
The orchestra – not to be confused with the Northern Sinfonia, the professional chamber orchestra based at The Sage Gateshead – hopes to re-emerge in due course under a name more in keeping with its ambitions.
Cellist Geoff Wright explained that a change of name for the respected amateur symphony orchestra did not entail a change of personnel.
“This concert will be the last by the Durham Sinfonia, which has been going for 20 years.
“It’s not that we’ve fallen out of love with Durham; it’s just that we recognise that the orchestra, which draws its players from across the region, has a much wider audience.
“Over the next three years we’ll be looking to do concerts in Newcastle as well as in Durham, although we will continue to perform in the cathedral because we love it.
“We have talked about the idea of a northern philharmonic orchestra because there was a Northern Philharmonic Orchestra based in Leeds before it became the orchestra of Opera North.
“But we are also looking for sponsors to try to raise our profile. The Northern Sinfonia is great but it’s a chamber orchestra; we would like to give the region its own full-blown symphony orchestra.”
The orchestra has had several sponsors over the years and is currently sponsored by Fentimans, the North East drinks company, of which Mr Wright is a director.
He said the new name would not reflect that of any new sponsor. “The orchestra is all about artistic integrity,” he said.
The Durham Sinfonia did perform in Newcastle recently, at St George’s Church, Jesmond. “It was in aid of St Oswald’s Hospice and it was great because there was somebody in the audience who was so moved that they made a very large donation,” said Mr Wright.
The orchestra’s musicians may be unpaid amateurs, but it has always prided itself on hiring celebrated conductors and soloists.
Tonight’s 7.30pm concert in Durham Cathedral features Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto performed by Geoffrey Silver, a former leader of the National Youth Orchestra and Royal Academy of Music prize-winner.
The conductor will be his brother Jeremy, former principal conductor of Opera Africa, South Africa.
Tickets for the concert, which also features works by Beethoven and Sibelius, can be bought at the door.
