Going local: Brixton Chamber Orchestra at Brixton Windmill

Members of Brixton Chamber Orchestra in between sets
at their family friendly concert at Brixton Windmill

Last week Brixton BID was presenting the Brixton Performs festival, a week of comedy, music and drama events in Brixton. The final event was a family friendly concert outside Brixton Windmill (London's only working windmill, which was open for visitors) with Brixton Chamber Orchestra (BCO) performing a wide ranging programme.  

Thankfully the weather was fine, though the orchestra still had to battle wind and ambient noise from Brixton hill. But it was a delightful event. I was slightly late arriving and walked up to the windmill to the lovely sound of the flute solo from Debussy's L'apres midi d'un faune wafting across. This was followed by Renaissance dances, the Dance of the Knights from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and much more, all delightfully woven together into a story by a narrator (who showed her versatility by singing in the second half).

Technically the first half was for the children, but it was fun for the adults too and then BCO moved on to orchestrated versions of contemporary hits. It was intriguing, hearing these songs in a new orchestral guise and certainly went down well.

If you are a South Londoner, then please do join their mailing list, and BCOs six-piece marching band will be out on Rush Common next Saturday, see website for details.