"Didcot's new symphony orchestra"

Principal sponsor:

PAST CONCERTS

CONCERT PROGRAMME 15 15 Sunday 13 October 2024 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
British Symphonic Discoveries

Eric Coates is famed for a number of popular pieces – The Dambusters March, By the Sleepy Lagoon (the theme tune to Desert Island Discs) and two London suites. The Three Elizabeths Suite is a joyful and tuneful depiction of three royal Elizabeths. The music of Sir Hamilton Harty is less often played outside his native Ireland, but surprisingly so because of its characteristic tunefulness, as demonstrated in With the Wild Geese. Sir Edward Elgar wrote five Pomp and Circumstance Marches (and sketches for a sixth) – the first is memorable for its setting of Land of Hope and Glory as played at the Last Night of the Proms. Frederick Delius was inspired by the time managing an orange plantation in Florida to write his Florida Suite, which apart from its sumptuous themes and dreamy quality, incorporates one of his most famous pieces – La Calinda.
	Coates	The Three Elizabeths
	Harty	With the Wild Geese
	Elgar	Pomp and Circumstance March no 1 (Land of Hope and Glory)
	Delius	Florida Suite (includes La Calinda)
	Elgar	Pomp and Circumstance March no 4 (encore)
		Featured in the 2024

CONCERT PROGRAMME 14 14 Sunday 19 May 2024 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
The Nightingale Sings – 1
A concert of orchestral and vocal music, showcasing the beautiful voice of soprano Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie. The concert will include a variety of shorter pieces in different styles, including highlights from the incidental music to Grieg's Peer Gynt, a gorgeous vocal piece by Granados, a sparkling overture by Wolf-Ferrari and Offenbach's incomparable overture to Orpheus in the Underworld. Johann Strauss's glittering introduction to Die Fledermaus opens the second half, accompanied by a very tuneful suite by Ippolitov-Ivanov, and Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie returns centre-stage to sing Strauss's Voices of Spring. There's no doubt – this is one concert where you'll go home humming several of the tunes!
	Grieg	Peer Gynt: Instrumental and vocal highlights
	Wolf-Ferrari	Suzannah's Secret: Overture
	Granados	Goyescas: The Maiden and the Nightingale
	Offenbach	Orpheus in the Underworld: Overture
	Strauss, Johann II	Die Fledermaus: Overture
	Ippolitov-Ivanov	Caucasian Sketches: Suite 1
	Strauss, Johann II	Voices of Spring

CONCERT PROGRAMME 13 13 Sunday 4 February 2024 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Popular concert classics
DCO brings to Cornerstone an afternoon of popular classics, and what better way to start than with the tuneful overture to Humperdinck's opera "Hansel and Gretel", based on the fairy tale by the Grimm brothers. Duparc destroyed many of his own compositions, leaving only the best – including the atmospheric symphonic poem "Lenore". Borodin's energetic Polovtsian Dances are a concert classic, with the main tune also famously used in a song called "Strangers in Paradise" in the musical "Kismet". And what better to close with than Tchaikovsky's sixth and final symphony, also known as the "Pathétique", which is full of soulful, unforgettably beautiful melodies.
	Humperdinck	Hansel and Gretel: Overture
	Duparc	Symphonic Poem: Lenore
	Borodin	Polovtsian Dances
	Tchaikovsky	Symphony no 6 "Pathétique"
	Dvorak	Slavonic Dance in G major, op 46 no 8 (encore)
Orchestra 47 Audience 186

CONCERT PROGRAMME 12 12 Sunday 8 October 2023 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
The Power of Melody
The first movement of Scriabin's First Symphony can best be summed up by an internet reviewer: "I am obsessed with the first movement ... it is just amazing to me ... it is everything I love in music". The music of Glazunov was somewhat eclipsed by the older Tchaikovsky, but he is at his finest in his romantic ballet Raymonda, from which we play the cleverly-extracted suite of the best moments. "Winter Daydreams" is the evocative name of Tchaikovsky's popular First Symphony, and he does not disappoint, with movement titles including "Dreams of a Winter Journey" and "Land of Desolation, Land of Mists" – overall a brilliant work.
	Scriabin	Symphony no 1 (first movement)
	Glazunov	Raymonda: Ballet Suite
	Tchaikovsky	Symphony no 1 "Winter Daydreams"
	Bizet	L'Arlesienne Suite 1: Adagietto (encore)
Orchestra 49 Audience 117

CONCERT PROGRAMME 11 11 Sunday 14 May 2023 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Impressions of Spring and Summer
Leconte de Lisle's poem Les Éolides (The Breezes) captures an idyllic view of spring, with breezes rustling through trees and meadows – vividly portrayed in this symphonic poem by Cesar Franck. Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune is considered a turning point in the history of music – we admire the impressionistic dreams and desires of a mythological faun in the heat of the afternoon. Fauré's Pelleas and Melisande is no less engaging – a four-movement suite containing the best music from his incidental music to Maeterlinck's drama. The tuneful and evocative Symphony no 3 "Scottish" by Mendelssohn was inspired by his summer walking tour of Scotland in 1829. The programme also features a new version of Breath of Life by Ukrainian composer Anna Kuzina-Rozhdestvenska.
This concert programme was planned several years ago and DCO's view, in line with the policies of Making Music and the Association of British Orchestras, is that the works of deceased Russian composers are a part of Western culture to be celebrated and not censored. In order to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Ukraine, we plan to include pieces by living Ukrainian composers over the next year, and DCO's founders invite visitors to our website to donate, as we have, to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal at this time of Ukraine's great need. DONATE TO DEC >
	Franck	Les Éolides
	Debussy	Prelude a l'après-midi d'un faune
	Anna Kuzina-Rozhdestvenska	Breath of Life (version for full orchestra)
	Fauré	Pélleas et Mélisande
	Mendelssohn	Symphony no 3 "Scottish"
	Duparc	Aux Etoiles (encore)
Orchestra 46 Audience 160

CONCERT PROGRAMME 10 10 Sunday 5 February 2023 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
The Romantic
Phaéton, the son of Helios in Greek mythology, is the subject of Saint Saëns' captivating symphonic poem. Howard Hanson was one of America's leading symphonists, and the pinnacle of his achievement is widely thought to be his Second Symphony, with its broad sweep that justifies its subtitle "Romantic". Hungarian-born Viennese composer Karl Goldmark continues this theme with the highly melodic piece that cemented his fame – his Sakuntala Overture. No concert with a "romantic" theme could end without Tchaikovsky's immortal Fantasy Overture: Romeo and Juliet.
	Saint Saëns	Phaéton
	Hanson, Howard	Symphony no 2 "Romantic"
	Goldmark	Sakuntala Overture
	Goldmark	The Queen of Sheba: Ballet Music
	Tchaikovsky	Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
	Soderman	Swedish Wedding March (encore)
Orchestra 53 Audience 188 (highest)


CONCERT PROGRAMME 9 9 Sunday 2 October 2022 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Symphonic Seascapes
The Prelude to Wagner's opera Parsifal demonstrates the composer's gift for melody and rich harmony. We then give the first performance of a work by Ukrainian composer Anna Kuzina-Rozhdestvenska. Wonderfully depictive orchestration is exemplified by the rarely-heard seascape A Legend of the Skerries by Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén, and by Arnold Bax's vivid depiction of the Cornwall coast near Tintagel. Highlights from Tchaikovsky's immortal ballet Sleeping Beauty abound with tunes you'll go home humming. The Stockholm archipelago
	Wagner	Parsifal: Prelude
	Anna Kuzina-Rozhdestvenska	Breath of Life (version for small orchestra)
	Alfvén	A Legend of the Skerries
	Bax	Tintagel
	Tchaikovsky	Sleeping Beauty: ballet highlights
	Alfvén	Gustav II Adolf Suite: Elegy (encore)
DCO founders Geoff and Jackie Bushell have already made a payment to Anna Kuzina-Rozdestvenska to cover the costs of typsesetting her composition Breath of Life for the October 2022 concert, but this has not covered her composing time. We will forward to Anna any personal donation you feel able to make via our PayPal button below. Thank you very much for considering helping Anna in this way.
Orchestra 57 Audience 138

CONCERT PROGRAMME 8 8 Sunday 22 May 2022 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Concert for Ukraine
Russian Masterpieces 2 In support of the people of Ukraine, the long-planned Russian theme to this concert begins with the stirring Adagio from Spartacus - made popular by the TV series The Onedin Line. Nikolai Myaskovsky composed in the tuneful tradition of his teachers Glière, Lyadov and Rimsky-Korsakov, and became known as the father of the Russian symphony – his 27th (and last) being the finest – a truly unjustly neglected masterpiece. Mussorgsky's glittering Pictures at an Exhibition, as stunningly orchestrated by Ravel, needs little introduction to concert audiences – as a descriptive musical portrayal of works of art by artist and painter Victor Hartmann during his travels abroad.
	Verbytsky	State Anthem of Ukraine
	Khachaturian	Adagio from Spartacus and Phrygia
	Myaskovsky	Symphony no 27 in C minor
	Mussorgsky orch. Ravel	Pictures at an Exhibition
	Massenet	Last Sleep of the Virgin (encore)
Orchestra 55 Audience 115

CONCERT PROGRAMME 7 7 Sunday 6 February 2022 at 16.30 The Beacon, Portway, Wantage OX12 9BX
Didcot Concert Orchestra is back !
The Gypsy Baron Overture is one of the most symphonic works by Johann Strauss the Younger, but none of his works would be complete without a waltz or two, and this piece is no exception. DCO is delighted to welcome violin soloist and acclaimed recording artist Clare Howick to play the delightful Violin Concerto by Glazunov. She will also perform the very rarely heard Nachtstück by Reznicek – its enchanting atmosphere features only four horns, a harp and strings to accompany the soloist. The Fifth Symphony of Dvořák is undeservedly less well known than his later works, but features melody aplenty, and its wistful and energetic moments form a satisying whole with an overall pastoral quality.
	Strauss, J II	Gypsy Baron: Overture
	Reznicek	Nachtstück (Clare Howick)
	Glazunov	Violin Concerto (Clare Howick)
	Dvořák	Symphony 5 in F
	Schreker	Birthday of the infanta (encore)
	Editor's Choice – Gramophone magazine Recommended Recording – BBC Radio 3 Record Review ... playing with beguiling warmth and affection – The Strad ... simply spectacular – American Record Guide Clare's debut concerto disc, British Violin Concertos, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, was selected as a 'Recording of the Year 2018' by MusicWeb International
Orchestra 44 Audience 122
This concert had to be moved with ten days' notice from Cornerstone, Didcot to The Beacon, Wantage.

CONCERT PROGRAMME 6 6 Sunday 8 March 2020 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Our sixth concert begins with a quintessentially English rhapsody – A Shropshire Lad – whose enchanting atmosphere leaves us wondering what future masterpieces Butterworth (a teacher at Radley College) would have written had he not been killed on the Somme. Then comes a superb but rarely-played gem by Josef Suk – Dvořák's son-in-law – whose Fairy Tale is a broad melodic tapestry that relates the path of true love. We end the concert with Franck's evergreen Symphony in D minor, which has delighted audiences for 130 years.
	Butterworth	A Shropshire Lad
	Suk	Fairy Tale - suite for large orchestra
	Franck	Symphony in D minor
Orchestra 50 Audience 163

CONCERT PROGRAMME 5 5 Sunday 6 October 2019 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
We begin our fifth concert with a symphonic fantasy by Rachmaninov – The Rock – depicting with vivid orchestration the meeting of a young girl and an older man during a Christmas Eve blizzard, and much admired by Tchaikovsky. Wagner's opera Tannhauser describes the struggle between sacred and profane love - we play a synthesis of the opera's two most famous orchestral excerpts. The concert ends with Rimsky-Korsakov's dazzling masterpiece Scheherazade, in which the solo violin part is played by DCO's Leader, Kate Bailey.
	Rachmaninov	The Rock - Symphonic Fantasia
	Wagner	Tannhauser: Prelude and Venusberg Music (with semi-chorus from Didcot Choral Society)
	Rimsky-Korsakov	Scheherazade
Orchestra 50 Off-stage semi-chorus 11 Audience 164

CONCERT PROGRAMME 4 4 Sunday 9 June 2019 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Our fourth concert begins with Emil von Reznicek's effervescent Donna Diana Overture, followed by an unjustly neglected melodic miniature by Glazunov. Young rising star Leo Appel then joins us for Bruch's ever-popular First Violin Concerto. Henri Duparc was a very self-critical French composer who destroyed much of his orchestral output. His Danse Lente is one of only three surviving orchestral pieces, and it deserves to be heard much more frequently. Effervescence returns aplenty as the concert ends with the 17-year-old Bizet's tuneful and remarkably accomplished Symphony in C.
	Reznicek	Donna Diana Overture
	Glazunov	Serenade no 1 in A
	Bruch	Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor (Leo Appel)
	Duparc	Danse Lente
	Duparc	Extase (orch. Bushell)
	Bizet	Symphony in C
Orchestra 42 Audience 151

CONCERT PROGRAMME 3 3 Sunday 3 March 2019 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Russian Masterpieces 1
We begin our third concert with the popular and exuberant overture to Glinka's opera Russlan and Ludmilla. Then comes an unjustly neglected gem by Glazunov – his tuneful Poème Lyrique, and the first half ends with Mussorgsky's epic Night on the Bare Mountain – depicting a witches' sabbath, and full of contrasts and innovation. The concert also includes one of the most popular symphonies of all time – Tchaikovsky's Fifth. Who can resist hearing the famous horn solo in the second movement?
	Glinka	Russlan and Ludmilla Overture
	Glazunov	Poème Lyrique
	Mussorgsky	Night on the Bare Mountain
	Tchaikovsky	Symphony no 5 in E minor
Orchestra 51 Audience 154

CONCERT PROGRAMME 2 2 Sunday 14 October 2018 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Following our very successful inaugural concert in February 2018, we begin our second concert with a rare gem by Croydon composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at the suggestion of Elgar. We follow this with Elgar's immortal Cello Concerto – practically his last work, and full of mourning for a lost world after the first world war. Soloist Jacqueline Johnson then treats us to an orchestration by world-famous cellist Lynn Harrell of Victor Herbert's short piano piece "Yesterthoughts", and we end the concert with Dvorak's happy and tuneful Sixth Symphony.
	Coleridge-Taylor	Ballade in A minor
	Elgar	Cello Concerto (Jacqueline Johnson)
	Herbert	Yesterthoughts (Jacqueline Johnson)
	Dvořák	Symphony no 6 in D
Orchestra 49 Audience 144

CONCERT PROGRAMME 1 1 Sunday 11 February 2018 at 16.00 Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE
Inaugural Concert
Our inaugural concert! An afternoon of classical music with Didcot's very own and brand new symphony orchestra, playing music from the late Romantic era. Ballet lovers especially will recognise Ponchielli's charming "Dance of the Hours" with its changing moods and catchy tunes depicting the times of the day. French composer César Franck's highly melodic and atmospheric symphonic poem "Psyché" offers a unique chance to hear this rarely performed but tuneful gem. The concert concludes with Brahms' incomparable and sunny Second Symphony, replete with fresh inventive melodies, colourful orchestration, and tunes you'll go home humming.
	Bushell	A Didcot Fanfare
	Ponchielli	Dance of the Hours
	Franck	Symphonic Poem: Psyché
	Brahms	Symphony no 2 in D
Orchestra 46 Audience 157

REVIEWS

15 I was looking forward to a good concert, but it was so much more than just good! It was really excellent. What a wonderful experience! Linda Benton

14 We sat down to enjoy Didcot Concert Orchestra at Cornerstone on Sunday afternoon and the experience was electric. The conductor Geoff brought the pieces to life, explaining how they have been adapted to help all the different instruments sing, including famous refrains such as the Can Can! Soprano Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie's performances were mesmerising, especially as the nightingale in a piece by Granados. I'd highly recommend DCO for anyone, no matter what their experience of orchestral music. All of the players were so talented and it was a joy to hear them playing together and identify the different instruments. As first-timers we are now hooked! Liz Nicholls, Round & About Magazine

14 Regrettably, we are moving away from Didcot so I won't be able to participate in DCO any longer. I would like to thank you for making me feel so welcome for the concerts that I did join you for, and I must say that it is probably one of the most interesting orchestras I have had the pleasure of being involved in, not only for the standard but also for the incredible choice of repertoire! I'll follow you from afar – not least for the benefit of seeing your repertoire choices, which are inspiring!) John Mann, former violin player

13 I just wanted to say how pleased I was to have gone to hear the Didcot Concert Orchestra yesterday, what a super standard it was and how much my wife, Clova, and l enjoyed it. It was an ambitious programme, with excellent playing throughout the orchestra. Particularly nice tuning in the woodwind section and super solos from each of the section principals. Didcot town is lucky to have such a fine resident symphony orchestra. A great job, Geoff – congratulations. I was hugely impressed! Michael Stinton

11 Another unmissable performance to a delighted audience by the superb Didcot Concert Orchestra, in the excellent acoustics of Cornerstone arts centre. As always, Geoff Bushell gave us a perfectly chosen programme of familiar works to draw us in, mixed in with more unusual pieces following a theme, and just the right amount of introduction for the listeners to follow the thread.

To a virtually full auditorium, the orchestra gave Debussy’s Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune a wonderful brooding quality in the opening scenes, something missing from most recordings; perfect, rich flute playing and orchestra in support, adding real contrast to the broad rich sweeps as the piece progresses. Other highlights for the audience were no doubt Faure’s Pelleas et Melisande, especially the familiar Sicilienne.

In the second half, we were treated to Mendelssohn’s 3rd symphony, the "Scottish", with an impressive realism to the storm at sea in the first movement, the DCO making the sound of a much larger orchestra. There was a convincing energy and pace to the second movement, bringing the listener to the front of the seat, with a sparkling performance from the clarinet.

The closing passage of the final movement was a magnificently majestic end to the programme, although the audience were far too absorbed at this point to allow Geoff and orchestra to go home without playing an encore! This was a delightful short piece by another French composer, Duparc, which brought us back to the light seasonal flavour of the impressionistic earlier pieces in this captivating Spring concert. DCO goes from strength to strength. Paul Chesson

9 I wasn't expecting such a high quality performance. Audience member, 2 October 2022

8 I thoroughly enjoyed the concert! I thought the standard was extremely high, verging on professional. A really impressive group of musicians, very expertly conducted. Sally H.

8 This concert was based on a programme which had been planned for a previous date. It was well worth waiting for. Beginning with the Ukraine National Anthem – a moving gesture of support to a beleagured country – a varied selection of pieces from that region, including one none of us were likely to have known, were splendidly performed. A gentle encore rounded off a very enjoyable afternoon. J.S.

8 I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed last night's concert and this whole session. It's a pleasure to play with so many players (and conductor) of such a high standard. Sarah H., DCO cellist

8 Really enjoyed this concert, it was amazing and the standing ovation during the Ukrainian National Anthem was very emotional. A great orchestra, honoured to be part of it. Sue Hurst, DCO flautist

7 It was a great pleasure to work with you, and Didcot Concert Orchestra. What an amazing job you've done bringing together this great sounding orchestra. As soon as I walked into the hall and heard the lovely, full, warm sound of the orchestra, I knew we would create a wonderful performance together. It was so joyous to make music together, especially given that it was the orchestra's first concert since the beginning of the pandemic. Both yourself and the players were very supportive, warm and friendly, and provided great accompaniment to the Glazunov concerto. I thoroughly enjoyed our performance together. Clare Howick, soloist

7 Outstanding achievement yesterday. Excellent concert and to produce it under the pressure of 'touring' was remarkable. We really enjoyed it. Dave W.

7 Great selections, superbly played and conducted, and all on top of the change of venue. K.R.

6 Amazing selection of music, including a non-famous piece which was very good, as well as some superb playing! Would recommend. Michael Vereker, Facebook

6 Thanks for a great concert this afternoon. Best of the five we've been to. Very pleasing to see that your audience is still growing. Looking forward to the next one. Tim Cook

6 Just two years after its formation, Didcot Concert Orchestra has become an established part of the town's cultural life, its thrice-yearly Sunday afternoon concerts makin an attractive addition to Cornerstone arts Centre's programme... Nicola Lisle, OX IN A BOX Read full concert preview

5 In the Prelude and Venusberg Music from Wagner's Tannhäuser, the orchestra was well and truly in its stride, throwing itself into the music with gusto. There was sparkle and conviction, the players clearly relishing this glorious score. One lady in the wind section, while awaiting her entry, was smiling from the sheer enjoyment of it. The singers from Didcot Choral Society impressed too in the Venusberg Music, their voices soaring, wraithlike, offstage. This was a truly magnificent performance of some of Wagner's most stirring music, and showcased the depth of talent in this mainly amateur orchestra. Rimsky-Korsakov's ever-popular Scheherazade ... was another lively and spirited effort, with all those familiar melodies pouring forth in a blaze of glory, each a rediscovered gem. There was some particularly fine solo work from orchestra leader Kate Bailey – one of four professional section leaders – and from the wind and brass sections. But everyone played their part, and this was a joyous, confident and utterly compelling rendition of one of the treasures of the classical music repertoire, bringing the concert to a magnificent finale. Classical music journalist

5 Congratulations! It was a superb concert and everyone I spoke to thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm still singing Scheherazade to myself! Audience member

5 Thank you very much for a wonderful concert today ... the quality of the concert was excellent. A.L.

4 This is a really fine body of players, expertly lead by conductor Geoff Bushell. The orchestra plays programmes that are both attractive and innovative in a pleasant, comfortable venue – a most enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Denise Ham

4 Enjoyed last Sunday, excellent choice of music and very well played. K.R.

3 I didn't think I liked classical music but I really enjoyed the music in this concert. J.C.

3 Great concert yesterday – congrats on what you have achieved in setting up the new orchestra. Audience member

3 It is wonderful that Didcot now has its own symphony orchestra! Its regular programmes are a very satisfying way to spend a late Sunday afternoon, and its third concert offered much to interest and delight. Conductor Geoff Bushell's introductions contextualised the pieces in such a way that unfamiliar pieces by Glinka and Glazunov were, for this layperson, accessible and engaging. Following the interval, Tchaikovsky's Symphony no 5 was a thing of power and beauty. And all a short stroll from the front door – we are fortunate indeed! Dr Amanda Sandiford

2 Wonderful performance by the Didcot Concert Orchestra tonight. Ed Vaizey, DCO Honorary President, Twitter, 14 October 2018

2 The Orchestra's next concert will be on 3rd March and will include Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. On this showing it will be difficult for the music aficionado to justify being elsewhere that day. Andrew Bell, Daily Info Read full concert review

1 Congratulations! A brilliant debut. Overall there was great ensemble, great tuning and many individual contributions. The very dry acoustics of the venue worked against the woodwind most of all, so more soloistic playing would help them project their sound. More communication between wind and strings will come as they get to know one another, and get used to playing in this challenging acoustic. The highlight for me was the string pianissimos, and the Brahms, apart from a few technical passages, was a tour de force. Geoff and Jackie have done a great job in putting together an orchestra of this quality and I'm very much looking forward to the Dvorak in October. S.P.

1 The orchestra successfully combines the performance of professional players with the enthusiasm of amateurs, resulting in a very lively performance. The cello section is particularly impressive producing a great sound. I hope that the current, and planned, expansion of Didcot and its surrounding area, will offer opportunities for both new players and new audiences. Tim Cook

GALLERY

We had some professional photographs taken at our inaugural concert on Sunday 11 February 2018. Photography © Triptych Photography.

< >

REPERTOIRE

Here's a list of past and future repertoire for DCO's first 17 concerts, ordered by composer.
Click on a blue heading to sort the table in a different way.

Composer	Piece	Date	Concert
Prokofiev	Symphony no 1 "Classical"	18-05-2025	17a
Lyadov	Sorrowful Song	18-05-2025	17b
Dvorak	Czech Suite	18-05-2025	17c
Larsson	Pastoral Suite	18-05-2025	17d
Beethoven	Symphony no 8 in F	18-05-2025	17e
Tchaikovsky	Nutcracker Suite	09-02-2025	16a
Hadley	The Ocean	09-02-2025	16b
Dvorak	The Noon Witch	09-02-2025	16c
Suk	Symphonic Poem: Prague	09-02-2025	16d
Coates	The Three Elizabeths	13-10-2024	15a
Harty	With the Wild Geese	13-10-2024	15b
Elgar	Pomp and Circumstance March no 1	13-10-2024	15c
Delius	Florida Suite	13-10-2024	15d
Elgar	Pomp and Circumstance March no 4	13-10-2024	15e
Grieg	Peer Gynt: Highlights (Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie)	19-05-2024	14a
Wolf-Ferrari	Suzannah's Secret: Overture	19-05-2024	14b
Granados	Goyescas: The Maiden and the Nightingale (HF-M)	19-05-2024	14c
Offenbach	Orpheus in the Underworld: Overture	19-05-2024	14d
Strauss, Johann II	Die Fledermaus: Overture	19-05-2024	14e
Ippolitov-Ivanov	Caucasian Sketches: Suite 1	19-05-2024	14f
Strauss, Johann II	Voices of Spring HF-M)	19-05-2024	14g
Humperdinck	Hansel and Gretel: Overture	04-02-2024	13a
Duparc	Symphonic Poem: Lenore	04-02-2024	13b
Borodin	Polovtsian Dances	04-02-2024	13c
Tchaikovsky	Symphony no 6 "Pathétique"	04-02-2024	13d
Dvorak	Slavonic Dance in G major, op 46 no 8	04-02-2024	13e
Scriabin	Symphony no 1: first movement	08-10-2023	12a
Glazunov	Raymonda: Ballet Suite	08-10-2023	12b
Tchaikovsky	Symphony no 1 "Winter Daydreams"	08-10-2023	12c
Bizet	L'Arlesienne Suite 1: Adagietto	08-10-2023	12d
Franck	Les Éolides	14-05-2023	11a
Debussy	Prelude a l'après-midi d'un faune	14-05-2023	11b
Kuzina-Rozhdestvenska	Breath of Life (full orchestra)	14-05-2023	11b
Fauré	Pélleas et Mélisande	14-05-2023	11d
Mendelssohn	Symphony no 3 "Scottish"	14-05-2023	11e
Duparc	Aux Etoiles	14-05-2023	11f
Saint Saëns	Phaéton	05-02-2023	10a
Hanson, Howard	Symphony no 2 "Romantic"	05-02-2023	10b
Goldmark	Sakuntala Overture	05-02-2023	10c
Goldmark	Queen of Sheba Ballet Music	05-02-2023	10d
Tchaikovsky	Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture	05-02-2023	10e
Söderman	Swedish Wedding March	05-02-2023	10f
Wagner	Parsifal: Prelude	02-10-2022	09a
Kuzina-Rozhdestvenska	Breath of Life (world premiere, small orchestra)	02-10-2022	09b
Alfvén	A Legend of the Skerries	02-10-2022	09c
Tchaikovsky	Sleeping Beauty: highlights	02-10-2022	09d
Alfvén	Gustav II Adolf Suite: Elegy	02-10-2022	09e
Verbytsky	State Anthem of Ukraine	22-05-2022	08a
Khachaturian	Adagio from Spartacus and Phrygia	22-05-2022	08b
Myaskovsky	Symphony no 27 in C minor	22-05-2022	08c
Mussorgsky	Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)	22-05-2022	08d
Massenet	Last Sleep of the Virgin	22-05-2022	08e
Strauss, J II	Gypsy Baron: Overture	06-02-2022	07a
Reznicek	Nachtstuck (Clare Howick)	06-02-2022	07b
Glazunov	Violin Concerto (Clare Howick)	06-02-2022	07c
Dvorak	Symphony no 5 in F	06-02-2022	07d
Schreker	Birthday of the Infanta	06-02-2022	07e
Butterworth	A Shropshire Lad	08-03-2020	06a
Suk	Fairy Tale - suite for large orchestra	08-03-2020	06b
Franck	Symphony in D minor	08-03-2020	06c
Rachmaninov	The Rock - Symphonic Fantasia	06-10-2019	05a
Wagner	Tannhauser: Prelude and Venusberg Music (Didcot CS)	06-10-2019	05b
Rimsky-Korsakov	Scheherazade	06-10-2019	05c
Reznicek	Donna Diana Overture	09-06-2019	04a
Glazunov	Serenade no 1 in A	09-06-2019	04b
Bruch	Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor (Leo Appel)	09-06-2019	04c
Duparc	Danse Lente	09-06-2019	04d
Duparc	Extase (orch. Bushell)	09-06-2019	04e
Bizet	Symphony in C	09-06-2019	04f
Glinka	Russlan and Ludmilla Overture	03-03-2019	03a
Glazunov	Poème Lyrique	03-03-2019	03b
Mussorgsky	Night on the Bare Mountain	03-03-2019	03c
Tchaikovsky	Symphony no 5 in E minor	03-03-2019	03d
Coleridge-Taylor	Ballade in A minor	14-10-2018	02a
Elgar	Cello Concerto (Jacqueline Johnson)	14-10-2018	02b
Herbert	Yesterthoughts (Jacqueline Johnson)	14-10-2018	02c
Dvorak	Symphony no 6 in D	14-10-2018	02d
Bushell	A Didcot Fanfare	11‑02‑2018	01a
Ponchielli	Dance of the Hours	11-02-2018	01b
Franck	Symphonic Poem: Psyché	11-02-2018	01c
Brahms	Symphony no 2 in D	11-02-2018	01d
		##-##-2025	##a
		##-##-2025	##b
		##-##-2025	##c
		##-##-2025	##d

CONTACT

Conductor & Musical Director
Geoff Bushell
Didcot, Oxfordshire

SEND MESSAGE

Geoff Bushell, Conductor and Musical Director, Didcot Concert Orchestra

PAST CONCERTS

15 Sunday 13 October 2024 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

British Symphonic Discoveries

14 Sunday 19 May 2024 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

The Nightingale Sings – 1

13 Sunday 4 February 2024 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

Popular concert classics

12 Sunday 8 October 2023 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

The Power of Melody

11 Sunday 14 May 2023 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

Impressions of Spring and Summer

10 Sunday 5 February 2023 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

The Romantic

9 Sunday 2 October 2022 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

Symphonic Seascapes

8 Sunday 22 May 2022 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

Concert for Ukraine

Russian Masterpieces 2

7 Sunday 6 February 2022 at 16.30

The Beacon, Portway, Wantage OX12 9BX

Didcot Concert Orchestra is back !

6 Sunday 8 March 2020 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

5 Sunday 6 October 2019 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

4 Sunday 9 June 2019 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

3 Sunday 3 March 2019 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

Russian Masterpieces 1

2 Sunday 14 October 2018 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

1 Sunday 11 February 2018 at 16.00

Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NE

Inaugural Concert

REVIEWS

GALLERY

REPERTOIRE

CONTACT