A Word from John Gibbons

Our quasquicentennial season is a special one for the orchestra, with each concert connecting in some way to the year of our inception (1893), the Victorian era, or Northampton's rich musical history.

The NSO came into being in the decade variously called the Gay Nineties or the Naughty Nineties. The plays of Oscar Wilde and the art of Aubrey Beardsley were all the rage. Electric lights were a novelty - in fact Northampton turned on its first electric street lights only a year before our founding.

Romanticism was in its heyday in the concert hall, with composers such as Dvorak, Elgar, and Ravel in the beginning or primes of their careers. The decade was also to see the passing of the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky which coincided with the composition and premier of his Sixth Symphony. In America, Scott Joplin was creating the new musical form of ragtime, and composer Amy Beach was breaking new ground at the same time as the early stirrings of the suffragette movement on both sides of the Atlantic.

Northampton had evolved from a medium sized market town of 7000 in 1800 to a bustling manufacturing and trade centre of 83000 in 1890. With growth came opportunities to participate in culture and the arts. The Guildhall was built and opened, as was the Royale Theatre. A small group of musicians and musical enthusiasts formed what was to become the Northampton Symphony Orchestra in 1893.

In the 125 years since, the orchestra has grown to become one of the best community orchestras in the UK. This year each concert will connect in some way to our founding year, the Victorian era, or Northampton's rich musical history. I’m immensely proud and privileged to be part of the history of our orchestra, and to present to you this celebratory season.

John Gibbons

This online brochure is a way of finding out more about the music we will be sharing this season- scroll down for images and videos, as well as links to book your tickets for each concert.

Celebration!

16th June 2019 - 7:00 PM

Derngate Theatre - NN1 1DP

The NSO performs our last celebratory concert in Northampton's premier concert venue, the Royal and Derngate. Our concert is capped with Strauss's monumentally epic Alpine Symphony. This concert will also include a commissioned piece composed especially to celebrate our 125th year.

Sir William Walton

Crown Imperial

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Piano Concerto no. 2

Richard Strauss

An Alpine Symphony

14th July 2019 - 3:00 PM

Exclusive Friends' Concert and Buffet

Our season draws to a close with our exclusive Friends' Concert and Buffet. We will be performing both of Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites, some pieces that showcase the different parts of the orchestra, and close with a last look back at 1893 with the third movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony no.6.

Friends of the NSO 2018/19

For a minimum donation of £20 a year, you can become a Friend of the Orchestra from September 2018 to July 2019. There are a number of exclusive benefits available through the Friends’ Scheme, and your contribution plays an important part in funding our concerts and securing the orchestra’s future. As a Friend, you will receive:

2 free tickets to the Friends’ concert and buffet

£1 discount on all concert tickets (excluding the June Celebration concert at the Derngate)

Regular NSO newsletters about forthcoming concerts

A free programme at each concert