• Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and the University of Exeter celebrate six decades of live music at the University’s Great Hall, as the Orchestra returns this month.

 

  • The Orchestra has introduced many of the greatest musicians from the last century and beyond to Exeter audiences, violinist Ida Haendel, pianist Radu Lupu, jazz musician Humphrey Lyttelton, horn player Felix Klieser, and conductors Constantin Silvestri and Paavo Berglund among them.

 

  • The University and Orchestra are also marking the 10th anniversary of a partnership that has seen thousands of people engage in impactful health and wellbeing programmesand music education work across Devon.

 

  • This month, the BSO will reach thousands of pupils through Schools’ Concerts and GCSE Music events in Devon, before returning to the Great Hall with conductor Alexander Soddy and celebrated cellist Laura van der Heijden [13 Feb].

 

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra returns to the University of Exeter’s Great Hall with leading lights from the world stage, as it celebrates a six-decade-long residency in Devon.

The University of Exeter is the Orchestra’s home in Devon: in addition to its world-class symphonic performances, the BSO is loved for its free Schools’ Concerts in the county and for supporting the Exeter Community Family Orchestra.

Since its first performance at the University of Exeter’s Great Hall, on 22 January 1965, the BSO’s archive of Exeter concert programmes read like a ‘Who’s Who’ in the greatest names of classical music in the twentieth century and beyond.

One of the biggest stars of the last century – former BSO Principal Conductor, Constantin Silvestri – made his historic last performance at the Great Hall [29 November 1968]. Another guest – the conductor Maxim Shostakovich – gave a performance of his father’s Fifth Symphony, in 1972, as Dmitri Shostakovich’s Soviet-era works began reaching wider audiences in the West. In more recent decades, conductors Marin Alsop, Kirill Karabits, and Andrew Litton became regular visitors – and many of today’s greatest soloists from the world stage, including Emmanuel Ax, James Ehnes and Hilary Hahn, have given memorable performances. In 2021, horn player Felix Klieser performed to audiences in Exeter as part of his UK concerto debut, before making headlines around the world.

The University and Orchestra share a vision to create a fairer, socially just and inclusive society – and, this winter, mark the 10th anniversary of a strategic partnership that has seen a commitment to creative opportunities in and around Devon, with particular focus on access and inclusion and health and wellbeing.

The Orchestra recently shared two popular Schools’ Concerts, reaching over 2,300 pupils and their teachers, in partnership with the Devon and Torbay Music Education Hub. The events were supported with resource packs to prepare for the interactive concert, plus CPD training sessions were offered to enable all teachers to feel confident in delivering the classroom sessions.

Musicians from the BSO continue to reach out to young people: they’ll perform GCSE Set Works concerts [10 Feb – Plymouth; 11 Feb – Cullompton]; and continue to support the intergenerational Exeter Community Family Orchestra, which rehearses weekly to bring all ages together through live music.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Executive, Dougie Scarfe OBE DL, said:
“We’re deeply proud of our Devon story, of sixty continuous years of musical memories made in and beyond the University of Exeter’s wonderful Great Hall. It’s extraordinary to reflect on the list of famous names that have travelled with us over the years – and we’re thrilled to continue that tradition today, of bringing the world’s greatest stars to you.

“Today’s challenges are different from those of 1965, and our decade-long partnership with the University – in bringing creative health and wellbeing opportunities to people in and around Devon – matters more than ever. We are immensely proud of what has been achieved to date and look forward to continuing our work to impact lives through music both on and off the stage for generations to come.”

 

Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Exeter, said:
“We are extremely proud that the University of Exeter is the Orchestra’s home in Devon and are honoured to support the BSO’s work to boost creative health and wellbeing opportunities in the county.

“We would like to pay tribute to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s work to break down barriers in classical music and build a more inclusive musical world through its work with communities, schools and young people. This has brought incredible music into so many lives and driven industry change.”

 

The Orchestra returns in full to Exeter throughout late-winter and spring. Star cellist Laura van der Heijden performs Elgar’s ever-popular Cello Concerto [13 Feb], before the Orchestra returns for a celebration of film music [13 March].  Celebrated conductor Kirill Karabits unites with accordion player Ksenija Sidorova for a performance of music inspired by folklore [27 March], ahead of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition with conductor Alexandre Bloch [10 April].

See bsolive.com for details of all upcoming Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra events in Exeter and Devon

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