Symphony Orchestra to visit a galaxy far, far, away

A JOURNEY to the stars, via early

20th century Paris is promised at a special family-friendly concert taking in Reading this spring.

Members of the Reading Symphony Orchestra are welcoming the Orchester der Landesregierung Düsseldorf for the show.

The programme starts off with a musical journey down the Vltava river in Smetana’s work of the same name.

It starts as two small springs and meanders through woods and meadows, past nymphs dancing in the moonlight, beneath ruined castles and further onwards as it flows through Prague.

Thel Rautavaara Clarinet Concerto will then be performed by soloist Nicholas Shipman, a piece that aims to showcase the full range of the clarinet’s capabilities.

The second half of the concert starts in the 1920s, with Gershwin’s An American in Paris, which tells the story of a visiting American exploring the hustle and bustle of the streets of Paris.

Organisers say listeners can picture themselves walking down the street during the Parisian rush hour - car horns and traffic noise combined with the blues and jazz of the Roaring Twenties.

And then the show will blast off with music from John Williams’ score for Star Wars.

It includes the main themes for characters such as Darth Vader, Princess Leia and Yoda combine in this musical suite to finish our concert with a Death Star-sized bang.

The event takes place at 4pm, on Saturday, April 1, at Reading Town Hall. Tickets cost £16, or £5 for students and under 16s.

■ For more details, or to book, log on to: whatsonreading.comor call the box office on: 0118 960 6060.