International tours continue to inform and inspire South London's young musicians at Fairfield Halls

Richard Farnes will direct the orchestra on 5 December (Image: Jack Liebeck)

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YOUNG MUSICIANS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WITH THE WORLD’S LEADING CLASSICAL MUSICIANS

In a continuation of a series of educational events which began at Fairfield Halls in June 2023 with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and continued in October with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the ensemble will host a pre-concert workshop with pupils from the venue’s Yamaha Music School (YMS). South London’s young musicians will once again gain unique insights and witness exclusive demonstrations from the performers, who bring valuable global perspectives to their learning. 

The concert will then see the Symphony Orchestra of India performing a programme opening with Williams - Imperial March from Star Wars.  

For violin enthusiasts, the highlight of the evening will be Marat Bisengaliev's performance of Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, demonstrating his virtuosic mastery of the violin and celebrating this seminal Armenian composer’s distinctive sound world. 

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique), the composer’s final work, will offer an emotional journey through Tchaikovsky's final symphonic work.  

Richard Farnes has worked with a long list of UK ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra and The BBC Philharmonic; ensembles which have previously used the renowned acoustic at Fairfield Halls for recorded releases. 

Violin soloist Marat Bisengaliev has achieved global accolades and performed in over 35 countries in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Centre, and the Royal Albert Hall. He was a prize-winner at the Leipzig International Bach Competition in 1988 and secured first prize at the International Nicanor Zabaleta Competition in Spain in 1991. Notably, he received the Special Virtuoso Prize for his exceptional abilities. His recording career has received international acclaim, and in 2000, he was awarded the Government Medal of Honour in Kazakhstan for services to music, which have included founding two orchestras in his home country. 

The Symphony Orchestra of India comes to Croydon as part of a eight-concert UK tour During November and December, and will also visit in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Coventry, Bradford, and Cambridge.  

The Fairfield Halls international symphony orchestra series will continue into 2024, with the China Schenzhen Symphony Orchestra (22 March 2024) and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (16 May 2024). 

Since opening in 1962, Fairfield Halls has welcomed acts and performers as wide-ranging as Tina Turner and Yehudi Menuhin, and hosts performances from the most renowned international touring groups. 

Speaking about the venue--which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022--Andrew Jamieson, Head of Touring for IMG Artists, said: 

“There is no doubt that (Fairfield’s) Concert Hall has the finest acoustics of any in London and all of our distinguished international orchestras who have previously visited the venue always commented on these wonderful acoustics and the tremendous, enthusiastic audiences.” 

Tickets for the 5 December 2023 performance are on sale now.  

More information and booking available at fairfield.co.uk