Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra opens new season with Haydn and Mozart Concertos double bill

The first of the Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra’s series of three Celebration Sunday concerts will take place at the end of this month at The Apex, in Bury St Edmunds.

The trio of concerts celebrate music by the great Classical masters – Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

The first “Mozart – the Prague Years” features two of the best-loved concertos: Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.  Sponsored by St Edmundsbury Wealth Management Ltd, the concert also features Mozart’s Symphony No.38 known as the Prague Symphony, which is named after the city where it was first performed. 

Conductor Leslie Olive, who has chosen all the music said: “We’re very excited to be launching our Sunday Celebration season with a real showstopper featuring not one but two dazzling concertos which showcase the extraordinary talents of our world class orchestra. 

“This is the first of three relaxed Sunday afternoon concerts celebrating the evolving Classical style through masterpieces of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, with a glance back to J C Bach, and forward to Mendelssohn – ideal entertainment after Sunday lunch, or before going out for supper after the concert.”

The solo in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, which became known to a wide audience through its soulful use in the film “Out of Africa”, is played by Matthew Glendening, principal clarinet at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. 

As a student, Matthew (pictured above) starred as principal clarinet in the Britten Pears Orchestra at Snape Maltings, and his career has included playing with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic.

Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto is played by Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra’s resident principal trumpet Christian Barraclough, (pictured above) who first played with the world-famous London Mozart Players at the age of just 15 and currently enjoys a busy career playing with all the major orchestras and recording film scores.

Christian says the Haydn Trumpet Concerto is a defining piece in the history of the trumpet, and he plans to explain why at the concert before he plays the piece. 

“Mozart and the Prague Years” takes place at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, on Sunday, March 26, at 4pm.  Tickets are on sale now from £26 (plus booking fee) available from www.suffolkphil.org or via the box office on: 01284 758000.