Saturday 14th March 2020

You are invited to the next concert of Winchester Symphony Orchestra, under our musical director Nicholas Wilks, which takes place on Saturday 14th March in Winchester College New Hall. We will be presenting two London symphonies: no. 104 "London" by Joseph Haydn and "A London Symphony" (Symphony no. 2) by Ralph Vaughan Williams. 

Haydn's much loved final symphony was first performed at the King's Theatre, London in 1795. One of the grandest of Haydn's symphonies in both scale and orchestration, the symphony exemplifies Haydn's contribution to the development of the symphonic form, with well-known themes, a slow movement of great delicacy and a vigorous, almost rustic minuet. 

Vaughan Williams gave a distinctive English voice to his music, but this is a long way from the "cowpat" label with which he has been so unfairly saddled. First performed in 1914, then lost, recreated and revised, the symphony is inspired by London, though Vaughan Williams himself made it clear that it is not intended to be heard as descriptive "programme" music. The work shows a breathtaking range of sounds and moods, at times turbulent and tranquil, jaunty and tragic. 

Tickets are available online now, at £15 / £13 (concessions) / £7.50 (children under 16), or from our telephone box office 0333 666 3366 (additional £1.75 transaction fee). Tickets may also be available on the door, but we suggest you book in advance if you can, to avoid queuing and to secure your seats.