Organ recitals, orchestras Ukraine, Hungary, India, China, and the Czech Republic: Fairfield Halls' new season

Fairfield Halls

Fairfield Halls in Croydon has announced a busy season ahead. Its International Orchestra Concert Series 2023/24 is headlined by a visit from the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine as part of as series that brings orchestras from Hungary, India, China, and the Czech Republic. And before then, the hall's 2023 lunchtime Organ Recital Series gets underway.

Fairfield Halls' International Orchestra Concert Series 2023/24 launches on 12 September 2023 with a concert from Concerto Budapest, conducted by Andras Keller, in Liszt's Rhapsody No. 2, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 (soloist Mihaly Berecz) and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Other concerts in the series include the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (18 October), as part of its largest UK tour for 100 years, in Symphony No. 2 by Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshynsky (1895-1968) plus music by Strauss, Beethoven and Sibelius, the  Symphony Orchestra of India, conductor Zane Dalal (5 December) in Khachaturian's Violin Concerto (soloist Marat Bisengaliev), plus music by Rossini and Tchaikovsky, the China Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, conductor Daye Lin (22 March 2024) in Chausson's Poeme and music from Tan Dun's score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, with violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen. And the series ends with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Ilya Mashkevich (16 May 2024) in Smetana, Bruch and Dvorak.

Tomorrow, 8 June 2023, Fairfield Halls' Croydon launches its 2023 Organ Recital Series with a Coronation-themed recital from Andrew Scott, managing director of Harrison & Harrison Organ Builders and director of music at St Michael & All Angels, Croydon. There are further recitals at lunchtimes on Thursdays across the year (29 June, 13 July, 21 September, 9 November) with organists including Jonathan Holmes, Norman Harper, Marilyn Harper and Herman Jardaan. Tickets are only £5 (with free tickets for under 18s) and attendees at events can enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee, which will be available from The Cube Café starting from 12:00pm, along with a 20% discount on food purchases in the café, allowing them to indulge in a delightful light lunch before the recital.

Full details from the Fairfield Halls website.