A new era for Liverpool’s classical music scene will begin this October as a newly established orchestra gives its debut performance at Liverpool Hope University.
The Hope Metropolitan Orchestra is set to play its inaugural concert – Flights of Imagination - in the Great Hall at the University's Creative Campus on Saturday 29 October.
The ensemble, which was previously known as the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Orchestra, now has the unique honour of being the only orchestra in the region to be officially linked with both a cathedral and a university.
To mark the occasion, distinguished local composer and conductor, Stephen Pratt, will premiere his new orchestral piece, A short flight across the city.
Professor Pratt, who is an Emeritus Professor of Music at Liverpool Hope University and London’s Gresham College, has been the principal conductor of the orchestra since 1985 and will lead an exciting programme which aims to reach out to new musicians and audiences.
The evening includes a performance of Mozart's ‘Paris’ Symphony and there will also be unaccompanied choral songs performed by the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Cantata Choir and the Level 10 Choir.
The orchestra and the two choirs will combine for the evening’s main piece, a rare local performance of Spring from Haydn's The Seasons.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to return to performing in the Great Hall.” said Professor Stephen Pratt.
“As Head of Music at Hope I was involved in the planning of its redevelopment after the University acquired the site in the mid-1990s, and subsequently conducted many concerts in the Hall with Hope’s choirs and orchestra, including performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Requiem and Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms.
“It’s a lovely acoustic for our new orchestra, and I know the two choirs will also enjoy performing in there.”
Tickets for Flights of Imagination are on sale at Ticket Quarter now and are priced at £10, with concessions available for £5.
The concert begins at 7.30pm on Saturday 29 October in the Great Hall at Liverpool Hope University Creative Campus, 17 Shaw Street, L6 1HP.