Part of our Sounds of Nature programme
We are delighted to welcome principal horn of the BBC Philharmonic, Ben Hulme. Brought up in Manchester, studying at Chetham’s School of Music, Ben was on trial for the principal job whilst still a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He plays the first horn concerto by Richard Strauss, who wrote it for his father, principal horn of the Munich Court Orchestra on his 60th birthday.
The concert opens with Johann Strauss II and one of his finest waltzes with a substantial and impressive introduction. This is followed by music which is inspired by our Sounds of Nature programme, an atmospheric new composition by Welsh-born composer Adrienne Spilsbury. Eyebright (2019) is inspired by visits to wildflower meadows in Cheshire, including Swettenham, Kerridge Ridge, and Swanscoe, where she helped to sow a new meadow. Her beautiful, atmospheric writing is part of the great British string tradition. This box of delights concludes with Mendelssohn’s exhilarating Italian symphony, which he composed for him, the mature age of 22.
The Northern Chamber Orchestra is Orchestra in Association at The Stoller Hall. The members of the orchestra (approximately twenty five in total) are distinguished chamber musicians who regularly appear as soloists. The 2021-22 season features pianist Steven Osborne, oboist John Roberts, cellist (and NCO President) Raphael Wallfisch, violinist (and NCO Artist in Association) Chloë Hanslip, horn player Ben Hulme and guitarist Craig Ogden.
Keeping you safe
We’re still doing everything we can to keep all our audiences and staff safe at The Stoller Hall.
We’re encouraging mask wearing when moving around the venue and when inside the concert hall, and if you would prefer to social distance when watching the performance, whenever possible we have areas reserved in the hall where there is extra spacing between seats. Please let a member of our team know on arrival, or by emailing boxoffice@stollerhall.com in advance. For our audiences who would like that extra bit of reassurance, our hand sanitising stations, enhanced cleaning measures and modern air handling system helps to minimise any risk from your visit.
