Conductor

### Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben - Kensington Symphony Orchestra

**Date:** Monday, 14 October 2024  
**Time:** 7:30 PM  
**Venue:** St John’s Smith Square

The Kensington Symphony Orchestra (KSO) is set to open its 2024/25 season with a captivating performance at St John’s Smith Square. Under the baton of conductor Russell Keable, the orchestra will present a rich and varied program featuring works by Richard Strauss, Samuel Barber, and Vítězslava Kaprálová.

**Programme:**
- **Barber:** Overture to The School for Scandal
- **Kaprálová:** Suita Rustica
- **Strauss:** Ein Heldenleben

**Highlights:**

- **Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben:** This tone poem, also known as "A Hero’s Life," was composed in 1898 and is designed to illustrate the ideal of great and manly heroism. The piece includes an effusive violin solo depicting Strauss's wife Pauline and features caricatures of his adversaries in the music press. The six-section work contains over 30 quotations from Strauss's earlier compositions, including "Also sprach Zarathustra," "Till Eulenspiegel," "Don Quixote," and "Death and Transfiguration."

- **Samuel Barber’s Overture to The School for Scandal:** Composed in 1931, this was Barber’s first work for full orchestra. Written during a holiday in Italy, it reflects the spirit of Sheridan’s 18th-century comedy of manners with its energetic and fast-paced orchestral brilliance.

- **Vítězslava Kaprálová’s Suita Rustica:** Written in 1938, this three-movement work is both lyrical and exuberant, bearing the influence of Stravinsky’s "Petrushka." Kaprálová, a student of Bohuslav Martinů, composed this piece two years before her untimely death at the age of 25.

Join the Kensington Symphony Orchestra for an evening of exceptional music, showcasing the talents of one of the finest non-professional orchestras in the UK.

Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben

St. John's Smith Square

Kensington Symphony Orchestra begins its 2024/25 season at Sinfonia Smith Square on Monday 14th October, when conductor Russell Keable leads the group in a performance of Richard Strauss’s tone poem Ein Heldenleben, or A Hero’s Life (1898).

Barber, Kaprálová, Strauss

Smith Square Hall

### Mahler's Symphony No.4 - Kensington Symphony Orchestra

**Date:** Monday, 25 November 2024  
**Time:** 7:30 PM  
**Venue:** St John’s Smith Square

Join the Kensington Symphony Orchestra (KSO) for an enchanting evening of classical music at St John’s Smith Square. Under the baton of conductor Russell Keable, the orchestra will present a captivating program featuring works by Andrea Tarrodi, Grace Williams, and Gustav Mahler.

**Programme:**
- **Andrea Tarrodi:** *Serenade in Seven Colours* (2013)
- **Grace Williams:** *Sea Sketches* (1944)
- **Gustav Mahler:** *Symphony No.4* (1899-1900)

**Soloist:** Monica McGhee, soprano

The evening will open with Andrea Tarrodi’s *Serenade in Seven Colours*, a vibrant piece for woodwind and percussion inspired by Mozart’s *Serenade for 13 Winds No.10, Gran Partita* and the jazz compositions of Miles Davis and Gil Evans. This kaleidoscopic showpiece transitions from shimmering textures to an explosion of color.

Next, the orchestra’s string section will perform Grace Williams’s *Sea Sketches*, a five-movement work that evokes the life and beauty of the sea. Written during World War II, this piece reflects Williams’s longing for her home in Barry, South Wales.

The highlight of the evening will be Mahler’s *Symphony No.4*, featuring soprano Monica McGhee. This four-movement symphony, known for its tuneful opening and the evocative scherzo depicting Death playing the violin, culminates in the finale with the song *Das himmlische Leben* (The Heavenly Life), presenting a child’s vision of heaven.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of the finest non-professional orchestras in the UK, as they bring to life these masterful compositions.

Mahler's Symphony No.4

Kensington Symphony Orchestra returns to Sinfonia Smith Square on Monday 25 November, when soprano Monica McGhee joins the group for a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.4 (1899-1900).

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony

### Event Description

**Magnus Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto with Michael Collins - Kensington Symphony Orchestra**

**Date:** Saturday, 25 January 2025  
**Time:** 7:30 PM  
**Venue:** Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

Join the Kensington Symphony Orchestra (KSO) for an enchanting evening at the Southbank Centre, featuring a captivating performance of Magnus Lindberg’s Clarinet Concerto with the renowned soloist Michael Collins. Under the baton of conductor Russell Keable, the program will also include:

- **Ravel:** Rapsodie espagnole
- **Prokofiev:** Lieutenant Kijé
- **Ravel:** La valse

The KSO, celebrated as one of the finest non-professional orchestras in the UK, promises a night of exceptional music-making. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a concert that blends the talents of dedicated amateur musicians with the expertise of distinguished professionals.

**Soloist:** Michael Collins, Clarinet  
**Conductor:** Russell Keable

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Southbank Centre's website.

Magnus Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto with Michael Collins

Southbank Centre

Kensington Symphony Orchestra is joined by Michael Collins for Magnus Lindberg’s Clarinet Concerto, the renowned soloist’s first London performance of the work.

KSO: Lindberg, Prokofiev and Ravel

### Event Description: Holst's The Planets at Fairfield Halls - Kensington Symphony Orchestra

**Date:** Saturday, 29 March 2025  
**Time:** 7:30 PM  
**Venue:** Fairfield Halls

Join the Kensington Symphony Orchestra (KSO) for an enchanting evening at Fairfield Halls as they perform a captivating programme featuring music by John Foulds and Gustav Holst. Under the baton of esteemed conductor Russell Keable, the orchestra will present Foulds' "April-England" and Holst's iconic suite, "The Planets."

KSO, formed in 1956 and recognized as one of the finest non-professional orchestras in the UK, promises a performance that rivals many professional ensembles. This concert is a testament to their commitment to providing high-level musical experiences.

**Programme Highlights:**
- Foulds: April-England
- Holst: The Planets

Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of the best amateur orchestras in the country, as praised by Classical Music Magazine and The Sunday Telegraph. Secure your tickets for an unforgettable night of classical music.

Holst’s The Planets at Fairfield Halls

Fairfield Halls

### Event Description: Berlioz, Rachmaninov, and Shostakovich at Cadogan Hall

**Date and Time:**  
Monday, 30 June 2025, 7:30 PM

**Venue:**  
Cadogan Hall

**Event Overview:**  
The Kensington Symphony Orchestra (KSO) returns to Cadogan Hall for an enchanting evening featuring the works of Berlioz, Rachmaninov, and Shostakovich. This concert promises to be a captivating experience, showcasing the exceptional talent of one of the UK's finest non-professional orchestras.

**Programme:**  
- **Berlioz:** *Le carnaval romain*  
- **Rachmaninov:** *Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini*  
- **Shostakovich:** *Symphony No.1*  

**Conductor:**  
Russell Keable

**Soloist:**  
Firoze Madon, piano

**About KSO:**  
Formed in 1956, the Kensington Symphony Orchestra has built an enviable reputation for its high-level performances. Recognized as one of the best amateur groups in the country, KSO is celebrated for its professional sound and dedication to musical excellence.

Join us for an unforgettable night of classical music at Cadogan Hall, where the timeless compositions of Berlioz, Rachmaninov, and Shostakovich will come to life under the baton of Russell Keable.

Russell Keable

Conductor

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 14, 2024

Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben · Kensington Symphony

Oct 14, 2024

Barber, Kaprálová, Strauss · Southbank Sinfonia

Nov 25, 2024

Mahler's Symphony No.4 · Kensington Symphony

Nov 25, 2024

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony · Southbank Sinfonia

Jan 25, 2025

Magnus Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto with Michael Collins · Kensington Symphony

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Symphony No. 4 by Mahler

Southbank Sinfonia

Conductor in Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in La valse by Ravel

Southbank Centre

Conductor in Overture to The School for Scandal by Barber

Southbank Sinfonia

Conductor in Rapsodie espagnole by Ravel

Southbank Centre

Conductor in Serenade in Seven Colours by Tarrodi

Southbank Sinfonia

Conductor in The Planets by Holst

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in Ein Heldenleben by Strauss

Southbank Sinfonia

Conductor in Rapsodie espagnole by

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in Suita Rustica by Kaprálová

Southbank Sinfonia

Conductor in Sea Sketches by Williams

Southbank Sinfonia

Conductor in Clarinet Concerto by Lindberg

Southbank Centre

Conductor in Lieutenant Kijé by

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in La valse by

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in April-England by Foulds

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in Le carnaval romain by Berlioz

Kensington Symphony

Conductor in Symphony No. 1 by

Kensington Symphony

About

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