Our 2012-13 season is as ambitious and far-reaching as anything we have ever done.  The programmes are as creative and exciting as always, with the eclectic and unexpected being carefully set alongside the familiar and the popular.

Our main theme is a joint one, putting together two very different composers who are particular favourites of the Sinfonia players.  In our seasons up until now, the music of Brahms has featured strongly – and in this, our ninth season, we will be performing a vast array of his orchestral repertoire.  Three of his four symphonies (with No. 4 planned to open our tenth season in October 2013); three concertos; his Variations on the St Anthony Chorale; and his ‘Tragic’ overture – we are celebrating the fiery genius of Johannes Brahms in no uncertain terms!

The other composer who features very strongly was born nearly 100 years ago, in November 1913.  Benjamin Britten has a strong claim to being Britain’s greatest-ever composer – especially of vocal and operatic works.  We in the Sinfonia have always loved Britten’s music, and this season we are welcoming back some of our favourite soloists to perform with us.  Tim Jackson (our Composer-in-residence last season, and principal horn of the RLPO) and Thomas Elwin will be joining forces to perform Britten’s haunting masterpiece, the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings; we welcome back Susan Jiwey (who sang soprano at our performance of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony) to sing Les Illuminations; and the Sinfonia will be performing his witty take on English folk tunes – the Suite ‘A time there was…’

Finally, I must draw your attention to our concerts in October and November.  Our season starts with a concert performance of Verdi’s shattering masterpiece Otello, starring the veteran British tenor Jon andrew in the title role.  Also in October and November, St Paul’s Sinfonia is joining forces with New Sussex Opera in Puccini’s early gem, Edgar – a characteristic tale of passionate love and emotional turmoil, leading inevitably to tragedy.

Tickets for all our concerts are available on the door from 7.00 p.m. on the day of the concert – we hope to see you there in October for the opening concert of our season!