Autumn Concert 28 November 2026

Under the inspiring leadership of Maestro Joe Davies, the orchestra is excited to present a truly memorable programme. We begin the season featuring two of Britain's most significant composers, Britten and Walton. Joe is delighted to bring these outstanding works to the concert platform, complemented by a selection of folk poetry songs masterfully set to music by Mahler, creating a programme of depth, colour and contrast.

BRITTEN: Soirées Musicales

Britten composed two sparkling orchestral suites both based on themes by Rossini – Soirées musicales and Matineés musicales, op.24. They revel in dance rhythms (both were choreographed by Balanchine) and demonstrate Britten’s orchestral mastery and tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. The two suites provide substantial and exciting additions to any concert.

MAHLER: Des Knaben Wunderhorn - selection. Soloist: Indyana Schneider

Gustav Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn is a collection of 24 folk poetry settings composed between 1887 and 1901. WMSO has made this selection of five evocative songs which reflect the broad range of Mahler's imaginative use of orchestral and melodic sonorities.

Our soloist: Indyana Schneider is an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano, praised by The Guardian as “outstanding” and by Opera Magazine for her “crimson depth and character”. A former member of the Opernhaus Zürich International Opera Studio, she has performed leading operatic roles, premièred Jonathan Dove’s In 80 Tagen um die Welt, and has appeared with Cecilia Bartoli and Orchestra La Scintilla.

WALTON: Symphony No.1

By the time he began working on his First Symphony, William Walton had already established himself as the most exciting young British composer of the day. The work proved to be one of the twentieth century's greatest symphonies. Volcanic sentiments simmer beneath its surface and the music conveys the tensions of the 1930s whilst always remaining consistently timeless in its appeal.