Concert review by Suzanne Smelt, Huddersfield Examiner 29 April 2013

The French Connection

Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra concert

27 April 2013 in Huddersfield Town Hall

Expect the unexpected with ‘España’ by the French composer Chabrier opening this concert of French music. This delightful apéritif had a clicky castanet feel created by pizzicato and staccato playing and the final flourish left me wanting more.

The following musical hors d’oeuvres began with Debussy’s impressionistic Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. The orchestra, minus most of the brass, shimmered with ..read more

Huddersfield Examiner 25 June 2012

Concert Review by David Heathcote

Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra crowned its 150th season with an excellent programme of well-loved opera classics.

Opening with Les Toreadors from Bizet’s Carmen, they played with spirit, energy and excitement. The overture from Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie showed the orchestra at its best and afforded conductor Nicholas Smith an opportunity to explore his excellent musical instincts, giving the audience  an interesting, colourful and engaging piece. The young violinist Peter Chasse embodied the physicality and ..read more

Huddersfield has always been seen as a musical town. And that reputation was underlined this week when the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Eric Firth, hosted a civic reception to honour one of the area’s musical organisations.

Huddersfield Philharmonic is proudly celebrating its 150th anniversary and the dinner at Huddersfield Town Hall was well-deserved recognition of its rich contribution to the life of the town.

The Mayor rightly remarked on the pride felt in the town at the achievements of the Phil and ..read more

Huddersfield Examiner Saturday 10 March 2012

The 150th anniversary of Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra was marked with a civic reception. About 200 people attended the event at Huddersfield Town Hall, including past and present conductors and most of the current orchestra.

There were speeches from the orchestra’s longest-serving member, cellist Paul Michelson, who has been a member for almost 56 years, current president Peter Lewis, and Kirklees Mayor Clr Eric Firth.

The orchestra can trace its roots back to 1862, when a Unitarian Minister ..read more

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Monday 14 November 2011

Review by William Marshall of

Concert in Huddersfield Town Hall on Saturday 12 November 2011

Extravagant folk music-infected compositions by Khachaturian and Borodin began and ended this concert and between them was the Brahms Violin Concerto in D major.

So this was not a concert that could easily be labelled with one of the thematic umbrella titles that orchestras like to devise whenever possible. On the other hand, the music of Brahms – for all its poise and ..read more

Huddersfield Examiner – 2 May 2011

Review by William Marshall

Having been confirmed as its new principal conductor, Nicholas Smith presided over one of the Huddersfield Philharmonic’s most assured, mature performances for a long time.

It was a demanding programme, but there was always plenty of power in reserve. Towards the close of the concert, the blaring fortissimo at the start of the final movement of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony pinned the entire Town Hall audience back in their seats.

It is sometimes the case ..read more

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

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

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