Esther Abrami and the English Symphony Orchestra

The English Symphony Orchestra undertake a journey of discovery in a programme that captures the imagination.

Tonight’s concert opens with a world premiere from Robert Saxton, until recently Professor of Composition at the University of Oxford. Taking inspiration from the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest written literary text in Near Eastern/Western cultural history and itself said to be an influence on the Iliad and Odyssey, the work promises to be an exciting opener.

From ancient Mesopotamia, we then travel to the Scotland for Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy on Scottish Folk melodies, tonight performed by social media superstar and Sony Classical artist, Esther Abrami. This is followed by Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony inspired by a walking tour of Scotland that he undertook in 1829.

‘The English Symphony Orchestra…enjoying a comet-like rise under Kenneth Woods, its Principal Conductor’ Musical Opinion

‘Abrami’s self-titled debut album is a pleasing patchwork of pieces, from familiar items in new arrangements to works by high-profile newcomers. Radio airplay is surely guaranteed for this playlist, the gloss of which is almost blinding. Some lovely moments’ BBC Music Magazine

About the artists

English Symphony Orchestra

The English Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble which in recent years has become synonymous with artistic excellence, innovative and visionary programming, distinctive commissioning and ground-breaking recordings.  Since 2013, the orchestra has re-emerged as a major force in British musical life, presenting and recording the orchestra’s first full length opera (the world premiere of John Joubert’s Jane Eyre) to overwhelming critical acclaim, presenting the 2015 Classical Music Magazine “Premiere of the Year,” and releasing a triumphant series of recordings including Donald Fraser’s orchestration of the Elgar Piano Quintet (Classic FM Disc of the Week) and the Complete Piano Concertos of Ernst Krenek (Sunday Times Essential New Release).

Founded by William Boughton in 1980, the ESO have a long and distinguished history of collaboration with legendary figures of British music making. Vernon “Tod” Handley became the orchestra’s second Principal Conductor in 2007, and led the orchestra until his death.  Over the years, the ESO has worked regularly with Nigel Kennedy, Steven Isserlis, Daniel Hope, Michael Tippett, Nicholas Maw and Yehudi Menuhin, who was appointed the ESO’s Principal Guest Conductor in 1991 and led the orchestra on a number of international tours.

British music has always been a central part of the orchestra’s mission.  Appropriately for an orchestra based in Elgar’s home town, the ESO has made many acclaimed recordings of that composer’s music, as well as that of major 20th century British composers including Vaughan Williams, Britten, Butterworth and Bridge.  The ESO discography also highlights a commitment to the music of our time; in addition to the notable recordings which grew out of the orchestra’s affiliation with Sir Michael Tippett, are recordings of music by John Metcalfe, John Joubert, and Michael and Lennox Berkeley.

John McCabe served as the orchestra’s Composer-in-Association from 2013 until his death in 2015. Following McCabe’s death in 2015, the ESO appointed Philip Sawyers as ‘John McCabe Composer-in-Association’ who was succeeded by David Matthews in 2018 and Adrian Williams in 2020. The ESO’s current John McCabe Composer-in-Association is Steve Elcock.

Esther Abrami