Title: Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra

Venue: Huddersfield Town Hall

Review: William Marshall.

After the events of November, when  the abrupt, acrimonious departure of principal conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa made headline news in the Examiner and throughout the country, this was one of the most important concerts in the history of the Huddersfield Phil.

Any suggestion of lingering low morale or musical sloppiness would be ominous indeed for one of the most important musical institutions in the country’s most musical town.

It can be reported that from an ..read more

Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra are delighted to have been invited to be the resident orchestra for a new venture, Huddersfield Youth Opera, whose opening concert “excerpts from the world’s favourite operas” will be on Saturday 25th September 2010, 7.30pm at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. We are particularly happy that our leader, Mary Barber, will be leading those players who are taking part. Huddersfield Youth Opera aims to provide opportunities for aspiring young vocalists to gain experience and add to their repertoire.

Please see the ..read more

Due to an unexpected problem, you may not have received a reply to enquiries about the orchestra during the last 2 to 3 weeks. This problem has now been rectified. We apologise for this and would request that, if you have not already done so, you re-send the enquiry.  This will enable us to ensure we respond to you as a priority. Thank you for your patience.

Season brochure 10 11 final

You can use this brochure to find details of the concerts and see how you can purchase tickets.  If you wish, you can print out the brochure, complete the booking form and send it to the ticket and subscription secretary along with your cheque, rather than wait to obtain a printed copy from local outlets.  Early receipt will afford best choice of seats. We regret that season tickets are not yet available for on-line purchase, although we hope to ..read more

Up-dated with information about a service of thanksgiving for Andrea:

There will be a service of thanksgiving for Andrea on Monday 26 July at 2.45 pm at Fartown Methodist Church. (Huddersfield Philharmonic members will know the location as our alternative rehearsal rooms.) Stuart Sandys will formally represent the Philharmonic but anyone who wishes to attend will be most welcome. We understand that Huddersfield Choral Society will be singing as their own contribution to the thanksgiving, Andrea having played such a significant ..read more

This preview featured in Huddersfield Examiner on Friday 14 May 2010.

Nine cellists will line-up to play a concert in Outlane tomorrow (May 15), four months after the original event was called off because of snow.

Bad weather forced the cancellation of the original concert planned for early January. Now the musicians have regrouped to play a concert at Outlane Methodist Church at 7.30pm.

All nine are from the cello section of the Huddersfield Philharmonic led by Wendy Davies. The ensemble will be ..read more

Come and hear the cello section of the orchestra in concert at Outlane Methodist Church.  No advance tickets.

Saturday 15 May 2010 at 7.30 pm

Featuring soprano Charmaine Beaumont

Bachianas Brasileiras numbers 1 and 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos, plus other music for multiple and solo cellos.

There will be a retiring collection, refreshments to purchase, and a raffle to raise funds. All proceeds to Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and Huddersfield Choral Society.

REVIEW: by William Marshall. from Huddersfield Examiner 26 April 2010

DURING her introductory remarks, conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa raised doubts over whether she, a Venezuelan, could do interpretive justice to an all-English programme.

She was being light-hearted. But if the programme had been all-German, all-Italian or all-French, the jest would probably not have been made. English music is still not deemed to possess the universality of music from the Continent. Even composers of the acknowledged greatness of Elgar or the esteem of Vaughan ..read more

Apr 23 2010 by Val Javin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

 WHAT more could you ask for, musically speaking, on St George’s Day than a concert of English music?

And that is what Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra has in store at Huddersfield Town Hall tomorrow (April 24) with a programme that celebrates the best of 20th century English music.

That means the music of composers Ralph Vaughan Williams, Malcolm Arnold and Edward Elgar.

The orchestra will play two pieces by Vaughan Williams which are separated in time ..read more

An innovation in this concert was that conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa spoke at some length to the audience in between items, describing and analysing them quite humorously.

It perhaps says something about the entrenched formality of classical music concerts that it should be such a surprise when lines of verbal communication are opened up in this way. But is it a welcome development?

Luis-Bassa’s lively personality and vivacious humour  went down well with most of the audience. And the nature of the concert ..read more