Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra – Preview – 2022/23 season
The first event that caught my eye was Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’ (Sunday, 19 February 2023, Brighton Dome). This is a formidable challenge for any orchestra and choir. It lasts fully three hours and audiences these days expect a high degree of authentic Baroque style. Fortunately, conductor Robert Howarth displayed his early music credentials superbly last November with Handel, Vivaldi and Bach, so it is in safe hands. I might prefer a smaller choir than the Brighton Festival Chorus, but this august body is always so musical and well disciplined that we can expect a beautiful performance, especially as the soloists are so well chosen.
Mahler’s 4th Symphony also jumped off the page (Sunday, 27 November 2022, Brighton Dome). Based on his song ‘The Heavenly Life’ it too should be an hour of bliss under the elegant baton of Barry Wordsworth with the pure soprano of Carolyn Sampson.
Joanna MacGregor
The season begins with the BPO’s inspirational Music Director Joanna MacGregor at the piano for Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ (Sunday, 2 October 2022, Brighton Dome). The programme includes Aaron Copland’s classic ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ and its now well established Proms counterpart, the scintillating ‘Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman’, whose composer Joan Tower really should be so much better known.
The Beethoven concert also should not be missed (Sunday, 26 March 2023, Brighton Dome). With Joanna MacGregor conducting at the piano, Ruth Rogers (violin) and Peter Adams (cello), the Triple Concerto will be a rare treat and the Emperor concerto is to end the season in a blaze of glory.
Between those headline concerts are some other lovely programmes, in particular a musical recitation of ‘A Christmas Carol’ given by Roger Allam, who has one of the most beautiful voices on the British stage, with the BPO Brass Quintet conducted by Joanna MacGregor (Saturday, 10 December 2022, St Luke’s Church).
Roger Allam
Stephen Bell returns with the New Year’s Eve Viennese Gala (Saturday, 31 December 2022, Brighton Dome) with the golden-voiced Irish soprano Ailish Tynan, who won the 2003 Rosenblatt Recital Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. There is plenty more in the coming season, of all orchestral styles, including works by Barber, Rautavaara, Elgar, Shostakovich and Brahms; and living composers like Philip Glass, Jonny Greenwood and Paul Mealor. Be careful to check the venues, times and the days of the week because there is a lot of variety this season. As usual, I can’t wait!
