Northern Sinfonia Announces Season

The world premier of Benedict Mason’s Sackbut concerto and the complete symphonies of Brahms and Schumann are set to be just some of the highlights of the Northern Sinfonia’s new 2012 – 13 season.

The Gateshead-based Northern Sinfonia – also known as Classic FM’s ‘Orchestra in the North East' – takes a dedicated approach to deliver nothing less than excellence and aims to present music “as if the were still wet on the page”. 

Following its maxim, the orchestra will present a mix of old and new for the upcoming season. The Romantic Symphony will see the Northern Sinfonia present the complete symphonies of Brahms and Schumann. The idea is to pair the symphonies in numerical order – Brahms Symphony No. 1 with Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 – and explore their distinctive musical personalities. 

Elsewhere, the Northern Sinfonia’s commitment to contemporary music will be on display when it presents a new work by British composer Benedict Mason with his Concerto for Sackbut and Orchestra, performed by the soloist Mike Svoboda. 

Northern Sinfonia and Kathryn Tickell will also explore the influence of folk music in Southbank Centre’s The Rest is Noise festival while the festive season sees the orchestra perform a newly-orchestrated Gruffalo double-bill alongside film screenings. 

The renowned Late Mix series in the intimate Hall Two pays its own homage to Brahms with a programme featuring Ligeti’s Horn Trio.

Tickets for the 2012 - 13 classical season go on general sale from Friday June 15.