Orchestra’s milestone celebration

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra at St David's Hall, Cardiff

CARDIFF Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 35th birthday with a performance of Strauss’ mighty and magnificent An Alpine Symphony at St David’s Hall on Saturday, July 15.

Since its inaugural concert at St David’s Cathedral in June 1982, CPO has entertained thousands of concert-goers and established itself as one of Wales’ foremost non-professional orchestras with a loyal and talented membership.

Now well into its fourth decade, the orchestra continues to go from strength to strength in delivering a diverse and exciting repertoire to its devoted following. In addition to performing four times per season at St David’s Hall, CPO has also performed the ever-popular A Night At The Movies concert every year since 1994, and become a firm favourite at the Welsh Proms with its Family Prom concerts since 2000.

The musicians have rubbed shoulders with a string of famous names, including Sir Bryn Terfel, Charlotte Church, Bonnie Tyler, Sir Geraint Evans and Aled Jones. Last October they were joined by Hollywood A-lister Michael Sheen, who narrated the world premiere of Bernard Kane Jr’s Mr Dahl at the Concert of the Unexpected: A Celebration of Roald Dahl. The orchestra is now returning to close the season in style with The Glory of Strauss & Elgar. The composers were contemporaries and huge admirers of each other’s music.

Strauss’ Festival Prelude was written in 1913 for the inauguration of the organ in the Great Hall of Vienna’s Konzerthaus. It provides a sensational opening work and the orchestra will be joined by organist Jeffrey Howard. Elgar’s deeply introspective but supremely lyrical Cello Concerto was composed in the aftermath of World War I. It will be performed in this concert by the Neath-born soloist, Steffan Morris. An unforgettable finale is provided by Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony.

The concert takes place at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Saturday, July 15 (rescheduled from Friday, June 30). Visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call the box office on 029 2087 8444