Saturday 14 March 2026: Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton
Sounds of Spring: Celebrated Classics of Drama & Lyricism
The Solent Concert Orchestra recently gave a very successful concert entitled “Sounds of Spring” in aid of the Minstead Trust at the Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Totton under the baton of their musical director Simon Wilkins.
The programme opened with Max Bruch’s Swedish Dances based on familiar folk songs. This was followed by Holst’s A Somerset Rhapsody. The music evoked pastoral scenes of both tranquillity and sadness which the orchestra beautifully portrayed with contrasting peacefulness and jollity.
The seasonal theme was continued by Delius’s On Hearing the First Cuckoo of Spring. The piece painted a vivid musical picture which was sensitively rendered by the orchestra.
Next followed one of the evening’s highlights which featured Tim Leighton on oboe, Simon Wilkins on cello and Julian Williams on organ; it was Domenico Zipoli’s Adagio for Oboe, Cello, Strings and Organ. Conducted by Isabella Stocchetti, the orchestra managed to provide an emotional accompaniment with the aid of the various textual cadences of the piece.
The first half concluded with an excellent performance of Mendelssohn’s Overture in C Major for Winds. The piece was subsequently expanded to include brass; the orchestra did not disappoint and gave a rousing rendition.
The second half consisted of Beethoven’s famous Symphony No.5 in C Minor. The orchestra met the different challenges presented by the four movements magnificently as was shown by the prolonged applause of the near capacity audience after the triumphant finale.
The concert was once again supported by the presence of its loyal patrons Sir Julian Lewis MP and Lady Fiona Lewis.
The orchestra’s next concert is on Saturday 20 June 2026 at Bramshaw Village Hall and will feature popular light classical music. Further details can be found at www.solentconcertorchestra.org.uk/future-concerts.
Howard Moore, March 2026