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Counting down to Spa Orchestra gala concerts
The countdown has
started for an event that no other seaside resort in the land can
match - the centenary season of the Scarborough Spa Orchestra.
Starting at 7.45pm on Sunday 3 June with a
Diamond Jubilee Gala concert called Orb and Sceptre, the Spa
Orchestra promises a fantastic centenary summer of light musical
entertainment.
Musical Director Paul Laidlaw is promising
an exciting programme that will show off the orchestra in its many
guises ranging from classical orchestra numbers to show band, dance
band, palm court and light orchestra.
The Spa’s Stewart Ward added: “Like the
orchestra itself, the musicians are also highly versatile. They are
all classically trained professionals who leave their day jobs with
the UK’s major orchestras and come to Scarborough for the summer
season.
“Unlike the symphony colleagues they leave
behind, The Spa Orchestra players will be faced with up to 1,000
different pieces of music during the 15 weeks of the season. Most
professional orchestral players don’t see this much music in their
entire careers.”
Years ago there were at least three
concerts a day on the Spa. Nowadays there are just nine each week –
all completely different. In fact, over a five-week cycle
it’s rare to hear even a single piece repeated.
For many of the large regular audiences,
the highlight of each week is the Thursday night Gala Concert in
the newly refurbished Spa Grand Hall. The first of these this year
will be a celebration of the orchestra itself as it enters its
centenary season.
From A Night at the Opera with two superb
guest soloists to and evening of radio and television theme tunes,
there’ll literally be something for everyone throughout the
season.
Some highlights which always draw extra
large audiences are the night filled with Ivor Novello’s great
melodies, and the evening of Gilbert and Sullivan with some of the
very best internationally acclaimed Gilbert and Sullivan stars plus
a full chorus of singers.
Later in the season the great Mario Lanza
will be remembered with an evening packed with his memorable songs
illustrating the story of his life and career. And if one great
tenor isn’t enough, there’s always the huge annual attraction of
Three Tenors in the Park, one of three special Firework Spectacular
concerts in Peasholm Park – also celebrating its centenary this
year.
To find out more about the 2012 season, visit
www.scarboroughspa.co.uk or call the Box Office on (01723)
357869.