Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra Launch Party, Brighton Dome 2 July 2025. Preview by Janet Lawrence

The launch event was a production in itself, with live music from two BPO percussionists. Donna-Maria Landowski performed solo vibraphone, with Chris Brannick on woodblock and – to the audience’s delight – tap dance. Both came together for Steve Reich’s clapping music to round out the evening’s applause. BPO Friends can enjoy such entertainment year-round, we were told, as part of the recently refreshed membership scheme.

A large screen displayed the stylish new artwork for each concert as Joanna revealed the season’s highlights. Her imagination and dedication to bringing in the most interesting combination of musical performers was once again on display.

The season offers a fine mixture of familiar works: Mozart, Mahler, Vivaldi, Ravel, Britten, Tchaikovsky, Delius, Vaughan Williams. All of these, plus modern composers like Michael Nyman and Wynton Marsalis to intrigue and surprise us, including the premiere of a Brazilian Percussion concerto composed by none other than Joanna MacGregor herself.

The season opens in September with ballet scores from Bartók and Ravel, the latter celebrating his 125th birthday this year. Young piano star Junyan Chen performs Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto, fresh from her win at last year’s Leeds International Piano Competition. October’s concert has a strong heritage; Samuel Coleridge-Taylor is known to have caused a sensation at Brighton Dome when he visited in 1908. His violin concerto will be performed for 2025’s audiences by Elena Urioste, alongside Mahler’s 5th Symphony. Ben Gernon returns as Guest Conductor.

This year’s Corn Exchange concert features legendary tenor Mark Padmore, joined by BPO principal horn Alexei Watkins for Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. There’s also music by John Dowland, a contemporary of Shakespeare: his tuneful but melancholy Midnight.

Christmassy concerts take us through December, with an unusual set of fairy tales played by young prize-winning accordionist Alise Siliņa. Also featured is a collection of Ukrainian Christmas carols described by Joanna as colourful and exuberant for all ages. Then, a return of BPO’s popular A Christmas Carol, narrated by actor, writer and musician Alistair McGowan; this year, it’s visiting three venues in Kemptown, Petworth and Lewes.

January brings charismatic young trumpeter Aaron Azundo Akugbo and music by Wynton Marsalis and Michael Nyman. In February, BPO’s leader Ruth Rogers takes the spotlight for Mozart and Pēteris Vasks. Cellist Guy Johnston, who enjoyed early success winning BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2000, joins the orchestra in March.

The season finale is a feast for young people: Britten’s Guide to the Orchestra, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and Brazillian percussionist Adriano Adewale. We’re promised an amazing array of instruments, explosive Latin rhythms and ‘unbridled orchestral partying’. Not just for young people, then!

On the subject of young audiences, also announced was the introduction of a new Under 30 ticket price and a collaboration with Brighton College. The back of the concert brochure reveals three chamber concerts and masterclasses planned as part of the orchestra’s efforts to extend music to young people. Be sure to take notice of these; it’s so good to support and nurture the musicians of the future.

If you think this year might not be your ‘cup of tea’, think again. Open your senses to something unexpected. Ponder on the whole orchestra: how the musicians coordinate, practise and come together to provide amazing sounds in sync with each other. There’s much here to comfort, intrigue and surprise.

Find the brochure on the BPO website or obtain a copy from Brighton Dome. Tickets range from £13 to £39 with special prices for children and Under 30s, and concessions for those on reduced income. Tickets are available online or with the Ticket Office on 01273 709709.