See the Orchestra in rehearsal for one final time this season, as Kirill prepares for Voices from the East — the first in a trilogy of concerts to round off his illustrious tenure as Chief Conductor!

Join us for tea and coffee in Function Room 2 at Lighthouse from 3.45pm, before a short introduction to the rehearsal by our Head of Concerts and Artistic Planning Heather Duncan. We’ll head into the Concert Hall at approximately 4.30pm*, when the Orchestra returns to the stage after their afternoon break.

Open Rehearsal with Kirill Karabits

Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts

Despite its popularity, Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto remains refreshingly original with its exciting and altogether exceptional opening and richly forged musical dramas of powerful virtuosity and of uncommon sensitivity. Karabits’ concerto, subtitled Lamentations, takes inspiration from two tragedies that befell Ukraine in the 20th century – the Stalin policy induced famine of 1932-33 and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Eclectically scored with theatrical gestures, it is modern orchestral music rooted in tradition. In the predominantly meditative Styx, the viola acts as an intermediary between the lands of the living and the dead. It is also the go-between for the orchestra and the chorus, which sings a patchwork text made up of the names of churches, and the titles of folksongs and lullabies from the composer’s native Georgia. Originally composed for solo piano, Balakirev’s virtuosic Islamey is an oriental fantasy inspired by melodies from the Caucasus Mountains.

Voices From the East

Tchaikovsky’s last opera is tender, magical and poignant. Extolling the healing power of love, Iolanta"tells the story of the king of Provence’s daughter, who is blind. King René has forbidden anyone from revealing the truth. When two young knights – her intended bridegroom and his best friend – stumble into the castle, Iolanta falls in love and discovers the truth about her sight. Upon learning of her illness, she yearns and wishes for healing so sincerely that a miracle happens, and she is cured; the opera culminating in a joyous hymn of praise. The score is particularly notable for its opening prelude which features only winds. The love duet is the best-known moment in the opera, as is the grand finale, both featuring some of Tchaikovsky’s most uplifting melodies.

Iolanta

Epic hits by Pink Floyd, symphonically reimagined! Classic tracks from the albums Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall.

Feel the full power of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pete Harrison, and immerse yourself in the sonic soundscape of one of the greatest rock bands of all time!

Symphonic Pink Floyd

Bristol Beacon

Mayflower Theatre

Join us for the Poole Season Close Celebration with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, a grand finale to our sensational 2023/24 music series. This special event will take place at the Lighthouse, Poole, located at 21 Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG, on Wednesday, 15 May, starting at 6.15pm. 

Celebrate the culmination of an extraordinary season and the remarkable 15-year tenure of Kirill Karabits as Chief Conductor. Before the concert and during the interval, BSO staff, musicians, and fellow supporters will gather for a special celebratory drink to toast a year of remarkable music achievements.

This event is complimentary and exclusively for our Patrons, Performance Champions, Chair Sponsors, and Gold Members. It's an opportunity to mingle with like-minded music enthusiasts and the talented individuals behind the BSO's success.

For further information or to become a member and join this exclusive celebration, please contact Jade Grassby at jgrassbybsorchestra.co.uk or call 01202 644730.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the BSO community and celebrate the power of music together. Book now to secure your place at this memorable event.

Poole Season Close Celebration

Fearing for his life and bowing to pressure from the brutal Stalinist state, Shostakovich wrote his Fifth Symphony to appease the authorities. It was hugely successful – the government was pleased that the rebel had knuckled under, beguiled by its grandeur, beauty and final rousing march, but to many the triumph rang hollow and the Russian in the street saw the truth behind the façade. Brimming with lyricism and unbridled energy, Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto is his most engaging. With its vigorous, percussive themes, moments of sweeping grandeur, angularity and brilliance, it was a break from the Romantic concertos of the past. Composed for a pantomime, Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin is a parable about lust, power relations and the fear of the strange. In turns brutal, frenetic, intense and dream-like, the music is some of his most experimental.

Shostakovich Five

Join twenty-five brilliant young disabled and non-disabled musicians for an uplifting classical concert experience combining acoustic, electronic and accessible instruments, including some you may never have heard before such as the Clarion which some musicians play with head movement. Expect bold performances of audience favourites such as Nautilus, Autumn and musicians’ own choice of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 

Feel the Music

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits presents a full day of Voices from the East at the Southbank Centre, London, with three concerts at the Royal Festival Hall interspersed with talks and free performances across public spaces in the venue.  Journeying along an orchestral version of the Silk Road, this series reveals the magical flavours of music from across Kirill’s native land and its neighbouring countries.

Voices From the East Festival

Royal Festival Hall

Dive into the enchanting world of classical music with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's "Explore the Orchestra: Sea Stories," a captivating concert designed specifically for KS2 students. This free educational event is set to take place at the Lighthouse in Poole on the 21st and 22nd of May, 2024, offering a unique opportunity for young audiences to experience the magic of live orchestral music.

Under the baton of conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh, with the engaging presentations by award-winning composer James Redwood and actor/director Lynne Forbes, attendees will embark on a musical voyage inspired by the majestic seas. The concert will feature a rich selection of pieces from opera, films, and symphonies, all woven together to explore the theme of the ocean and its influence on musical imagination.

In addition to enjoying the symphonic performances, the audience will participate in a specially composed song and a newly created body percussion piece, both of which have been developed in collaboration with schools from Portsmouth. These interactive elements are designed to introduce the students to the various instruments that comprise a symphony orchestra, allowing them to sing and perform alongside the professional musicians.

The concert promises an unforgettable experience with a running time of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the concert will be available on Wednesday, 22nd May at 1:30 pm, ensuring no one misses out on this educational and entertaining event.

"Explore the Orchestra: Sea Stories" is not just a concert; it's an opportunity for children to discover the joy of classical music, potentially sparking a lifelong interest in learning to play an instrument. With the generous support of the Skyrme Hart Charitable Trust and other benefactors, the BSO continues its mission to make music accessible to all, especially the younger generation.

For more information and to book your school's attendance, please contact Tom Kay at tkaybsorchestra.co.uk or call 01202 644726. Don't miss this chance to set sail on a musical adventure with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra!

Explore the Orchestra: Sea Stories

In his Violin Concerto, Korngold reworked themes from several of his film scores. Lush and romantic; the music certainly brings to mind the swashbuckling films of the period. With its full-throated lyricism and unbridled virtuosity the main theme develops in freely rhapsodic fashion, embellished with pyrotechnic passagework that ascends into the stratosphere. Remaining incredibly fresh and abounding with memorable melodies, the Ninth Symphony describes Dvořák’s spiritual and emotional journey from his intense longing for his beloved Bohemia to the thrill of the “New World” and its varied peoples. Kara Karayev forged his own distinctive use of native Azerbaijani folk music. The ballet The Seven Beauties brims with an exotic array of appealing rhythms and melodies.

New Worlds

Experience the intensity and drama of Puccini's masterpiece, "Tosca," at The Grange Festival. This thrilling opera, known for its pulsating dramatic tension and blood-curdling score, will be conducted by Francesco Cilluffo, with direction by Christopher Luscombe and design by Simon Higlett. Italian soprano Francesca Tiburzi takes on the central role, marking her UK debut as Tosca, alongside the talented Uruguayan tenor Andrés Presno as Cavaradossi. Join us for an unforgettable performance that promises to captivate with its powerful music and edge-of-your-seat drama.

- **Location:** The Grange, Northington, Alresford, SO24 9TG
- **Dates:** 
  - Saturday 8 June, 5.00pm
  - Saturday 15 June, 5.00pm
  - Friday 21 June, 5.00pm
  - Wednesday 26 June, 5.00pm
  - Sunday 30 June, 5.00pm
  - Friday 5 July, 5.00pm
- **Price Range:** £30 - £210
- **Running Time:** 260 minutes, including break
- **Featuring:** 
  - Francesco Cilluffo, Conductor
  - Christopher Luscombe, Director
  - Simon Higlett, Designer

Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of opera's greatest works in a setting as dramatic as the opera itself. Book your tickets now for an evening of unforgettable music and theatre.

Tosca

The Grange at Northington

Awakening is a spiritual choral work based at Stonehenge near Salisbury. Setting 16 spiritual poems by Stephen Feltham,  Awakening portrays the cycle of hope experienced by humanity as it progresses through the celestial cycle exhibited by the equinoxes and solstices. The work is in four main sections: Spring Equinox; Summer Solstice; Autumn Equinox; Winter Solstice.

Awakening

“For idle hearts and hands and minds the Devil finds work to do”. Igor Stravinsky saw William Hogarth’s set of eight 18th century paintings and engravings of London life and created a groundbreaking opera on them. WH Auden’s poetic English libretto resonates with the speech and danger of those London streets. The Rake’s Progress is a devastating morality play, packed with wit, satire, high comedy, and tragedy. It dances on a pin of laughter and ridicule. Stravinsky’s score is a modern Mozart opera, infused with delicious parody and celebration of the earlier genius’ music. This new production will be created by the celebrated prize-winning director/designer Antony McDonald. Tom Primrose, our 2023 chorus master, conducts. The cast is a roll-call of British stars. Emerging tenor Adam Temple Smith and Alexandra Oomens, critically praised as Euridice and Belinda in our 2023 Double Bill, sing the young lovers Tom Rakewell and Anne Trulove. Scottish/Iranian bass-baritone Michael Mofidian is Nick Shadow; Rosie Aldridge Baba the Turk, Catherine Wyn-Rogers Mother Goose and John Graham Hall the Auctioneer, Sellem. Tears of laughter and sadness will flow in equal measure.

The Rake’s Progress

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the "Classical Extravaganza" hosted by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in the picturesque Meyrick Park, Bournemouth, on Friday, 26 July 2024, at 8pm. This spectacular event promises to immerse you in the world's most beloved symphonic music, featuring compositions by renowned composers such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg, Saint-Saëns, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and many more.

The evening will showcase a diverse program, including iconic pieces like Williams' "Star Wars," Grieg's "Morning & In the Hall of the Mountain King," Bach's "Toccata and Fugue," Bizet's "Carmen Suite," and Wagner's thrilling "Ride of the Valkyries," culminating in a vibrant pyrotechnic and fireworks display that will light up the night sky.

Under the baton of conductor Pete Harrison, experience a journey through cinematic scores and symphonic masterpieces that will stir your soul and elevate your spirit. The concert's duration is approximately 2 hours, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the magic of live orchestral music.

Ticket pricing is as follows:
- Early bird price: £30
- Advance price (29 May to 25 July): £34
- On the day: £38
- Plus a £1 booking fee per ticket

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a mesmerizing evening that celebrates the power and beauty of classical music. Book your tickets now and let the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra take you on an unforgettable musical adventure at Meyrick Park, Central Drive, Bournemouth, BH2 6LH.

For more information on concerts, ticketing, or any other general enquiries, please get in touch with our box office, open Monday-Friday from 10AM-5PM at hellobsorchestra.co.uk or call 01202 669925.

Classical Extravaganza

The Club at Meyrick Park

Relive the magical sounds of the seventies in this trip back to a time of big hair and platform shoes, wide lapels and Denim aftershave! Crammed full of Disco tracks by the Bee Gees, Earth Wind and Fire, Boney M, Sister Sledge, Donna Summer, Kool and the Gang and many more – with fireworks and pyrotechnics galore!

Disco Symphonic Spectacular

The BSO and GRB Concerts present a musical celebration of the Bee Gees, from their highly successful early period in the 1960’s and 70’s, through to their career defining multi-award-winning soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever in 1977 which, alongside the film, made a ground-breaking contribution to pop culture across the globe. Throughout the 1980’s, they developed a highly successful reputation as writers and producers for other leading artists – the likes of Barbara Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Frank Valli and Yvonne Elliman.

Symphonic Bee Gees

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the BSO’s Last Night of the Christmas Proms concert! This year we are thrilled to welcome the talents of pianist and singer extraordinaire, Joe Stilgoe, who will be showcasing his musical talents with a hamper full of Christmas musical goodies alongside all your favourite orchestral treats.

Last Night of the Christmas Proms

Portsmouth Guildhall

University of Exeter

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra present a magnificent celebration of John Williams’ timeless music from the entire intergalactic film saga. From the original Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977 to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with music by Michael Giachhino. All spectacularly performed by the full force of the orchestra and conducted by Pete Harrison. This evening of some of the best movie music ever written is not to be missed!

Star Wars: the Definitive Concert

Nottingham based Senegalese composer and kora player Seckou Keita is proud to present African Rhapsodies: an epic project created in collaboration with Italian composer and musician Davide Mantovani. This enchanting work for kora and orchestra celebrates Africa’s magical 22-stringed harp and gives it the position of prominence granted for centuries to the violin, piano and flute. It makes us wonder if Bach or Beethoven might have composed for kora had they travelled to Africa in their lifetime. Seckou builds on that notion by way of his own imagination, which is greatly sparked by his lengthy fascination with crossing cultural borders. The result is a majestic work showcasing a whirlwind of virtuosity, but above all a sublime poetic journey where music is pure emotion.

African Rhapsodies

Heroes both historical and fictitious as well as superheroes of the Marvel and DC comics are a fertile mine of inspiration for Hollywood and some of the best big screen adventures ever.  With music from the glorious days of Technicolor© to the recent blockbusters of today! Join us on 13 March, 2025, for an unforgettable experience!

Heroes & Superheroes

The name’s Bond – James Bond. When it comes to the high life, nobody does it better. The BSO puts on its tux, pours itself a Martini and toasts the superstar spy with some of the sassiest signature tunes in cinematic history. They say diamonds are forever, and as the Orchestra celebrates seven decades of gadgets and super villains we see that Bond tunes are every bit as enduring and brilliant.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Apr 30, 2024

Open Rehearsal with Kirill Karabits

May 1, 2024

Voices From the East

May 8, 2024

Iolanta

May 10 - Nov 3, 2024

Symphonic Pink Floyd

May 15, 2024

Poole Season Close Celebration

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

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