The Mid-Somerset Orchestra

13/05/2026

Straight back to work this evening in rehearsal for our summer concert on 4th July, and the music is starting to take shape!

Elgar’s Cello Concerto was written just after World War I and is often heard as a farewell to the old Romantic world, while Borodin and Schumann’s music bursts with optimism, folklore and sweeping landscapes. This programme offers a fascinating contrast of passion, nostalgia and historic national character.

11/05/2026

🎻 We’re now on Instagram! 🎶

Follow The Mid-Somerset Orchestra for concert updates, rehearsal snapshots, behind-the-scenes moments, and plenty of orchestral music along the way.

📸 Follow us here:
instagram.com/the_mid_somerset_orchestra

We’d love to see you there!

29/04/2026

We very much enjoyed rehearsing the Barber Violin Concerto with soloist Emma Steenkamp this evening. It's going to be a memorable concert!

17/04/2026

Rachmaninoff at his most glorious!

We’re looking forward to an evening of sweeping melodies and rich orchestral colour as the Mid-Somerset Orchestra performs Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 at Strode Theatre on Saturday 9th May. Written after a difficult period in the composer’s life, this magnificent symphony became one of his greatest triumphs. A taster of what to expect in the linked clip:
https://youtu.be/QBy_ACHvEJs?si=lc8JyazrWES-pnpy

Also on the programme: Barber’s Violin Concerto performed by Emma Steencamp.
Book now for an evening of sumptuous 20th-century music! https://midsomersetorchestra.co.uk/events/rachmaninoff-symphony-no-2-barber-violin-concerto/

Watch the Oslo Philharmonic perform Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 with chief conductor Vasily Petrenko in Oslo Concert Hall on 31st October 2014.I. La...

15/03/2026

🎻 Barber’s Violin Concerto

Join us for a rare performance of Samuel Barber’s powerful Violin Concerto. Our brilliant soloist Emma Steenkamp will bring this stunning concerto to life, from the deeply expressive opening movement to the exhilarating final dash that never fails to bring audiences to the edge of their seats.

Have a listen to Emma playing the concerto here:
https://youtu.be/jYkOm_HkhYM?si=8KHHvx-GnWNjtE3X and then enjoy the live performance with full orchestra on Saturday 9th May in Strode Theatre.

📅 Find full details and book tickets:
https://midsomersetorchestra.co.uk/events/rachmaninoff-symphony-no-2-barber-violin-concerto/

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

13/02/2026

🎻 Experience Barber’s Brilliant Violin Concerto! 🎶

🎼 Our next concert opens with Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto. Written in 1939, it's one of the great 20th-century works for violin and orchestra. This is a perfect showcase for the brilliant violin performance you’ll hear live with soloist Emma Steenkamp.

🎻 Why this is special:
Before the live performance, you can hear Barber’s Violin Concerto in your own space thanks to a BBC Radio broadcast available now — a wonderful opportunity to familiarise yourself with the work. 🎧👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002qqwy

The Mid-Somerset Orchestra
📅 Date: 9 May 2026
📍 Venue: Strode Theatre, Street, Somerset
🎟️ Tickets available now — don’t miss out!
https://www.strodetheatre.org.uk/event/mso-rachmaninoff-symphony-no-2-barber-violin-concerto/
✨ Please share with friends! 🎟️

05/02/2026

Mid-Somerset Orchestra is straight back in action and we’ve just started rehearsals for our next big project: Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2!

Written in the early 1900s, this lush late-Romantic epic is packed with sweeping melodies, glowing strings and big climaxes that feel straight out of a classic Hollywood soundtrack. Rachmaninoff's tunes have inspired countless film composers and even found their way into songs by artists like Eric Carmen and Barry Manilow.

We can’t wait to bring this cinematic, heart-on-sleeve symphony to life on Saturday May 9th.

23/01/2026

Join us at Strode Theatre on Sunday 1st Feb at 3pm for a wonderful concert of Italian and Viennese masterpieces, performed by the Mid-Somerset Orchestra.

✨ Programme highlights include:
• Rossini – Overture to La Cenerentola (Cinderella)
• Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring rising star Melvin Wai from Wells Cathedral School
• Mozart – Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” — a grand and joyful finale

Expect lively rhythms, beautiful melodies, and an uplifting musical experience. Perfect for classical music lovers and newcomers alike.

Join the Mid-Somerset Orchestra in the cosy surroundings of Strode Theatre for a delightful afternoon concert of Italian and Viennese music. The concert opens with Rossini’s overture to La Cenerentola (Cinderella), a lively and witty piece full of rhythmic sparkle and operatic charm. Rising star M...

09/01/2026

🎭 Rossini at his most sparkling! ✨

Get a taste of operatic magic with this lively excerpt from Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella) a whirlwind of wit, charm, and irresistible melody. This effervescent overture opens our upcoming Winter Matinee concert and sets the perfect tone for a joyful afternoon of classical music. https://youtu.be/SvYXp8jG4bs?si=oTpwUaskMMXjhdvF

🎻 Rossini, Mozart & Beethoven – A Winter Matinee
📅 Sunday 1 February | 3pm
📍 Strode Theatre, Street

Teatro La Fenice - New Year's Concert 2007 (estratto)‪‪Gioachino Rossini, 'La cenerentola' - ouvertureOrchestra del Teatro La FeniceKazushi Ono, direttore

13/12/2025

After the memorable performance of Holst’s The Planets last month (with an amazing “Jupiter”), the Mid-Somerset Orchestra returns on Sunday 1st February 2026 at 3 pm with a classical matinee at Strode Theatre, Street. On the programme:

🎼 Rossini – Overture to La Cenerentola (Cinderella) – lively, witty and full of operatic charm
🎹 Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 1 – performed by rising star Melvin Wai
🎶 Mozart – Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” (yes another one!)

Perfect for classical music lovers and anyone who enjoyed our Jupiter last time! Details and tickets: https://midsomersetorchestra.co.uk/events/rossini-mozart-beethoven-a-winter-matinee/

And here’s a taste of how that Mozart Jupiter sparkles:
🎧 https://youtu.be/WTGjcVjY3vA?si=8A-z1a2MuOJ-b8zT

Ryan Wigglesworth conducts Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Symphony No 41 K551, ‘Jupiter’ with the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded live at LSO St Luke's on Wed...