Summer concert...

Review by...

4th July, 2026

St Mary's Church, Horsham

Conductors: Steve Dummer
Leader: Rachel Ellis

Sibelius Symphony No.6

Rimsky-Korsakov Sheherazade

Montague Introit St John's

Early thoughts from Aidan, whilst we wait for our fabulous reviewer, Louise Dumas to submit the official version...

On a warm and rather sultry evening, Horsham SO gave their summer concert before a large audience in St Mary’s Church.  Unfortunately a work site visit mishap, incurring a knee injury, prevented my participation. However, I was greatly looking forward to a concert programme of works which one not expect to see in an average amateur orchestra programme, not of course that HSO is in any way an ‘average amateur orchestra.’ I was not to be disappointed.

The concert began with Stephen Montague’s Introit, which the composer considered represented the current state of America with its highly polarised political discourse and social fragmentation. This came across highly effectively, with the well-drilled set pieces directed with aplomb by Tom Sangster, the orchestra’s student conductor. This was an ambitious piece to conduct and, on the evidence of this opening piece. I’m sure Tom will enjoy much success in the years ahead. The cavernous spaces of the church allowed the antiphonal effects of the orchestra and off-stage musicians to resound magnificently.

The next piece was what I was really looking forward to hearing. Sibelius’s 6th symphony has tended to be regarded somewhat as a ‘Cinderella’ piece and it is probably his least performed. You would be hard pushed to hear it performed by a professional orchestra in their seasons; one tends to hear his Second or Fifth. Indeed, checking my proms programme for 2026, I see that the only Sibelius symphony to be performed in the season is, predicably, the second.

It is fair to say that the 6th is an strange beast indeed with its elusive nature and juxtaposition of C major and the Dorian mode in the first movement.  The orchestra responded magnificently to Steve’s detailed musical direction with lustrous, incisive strings, piquant woodwind, delicate percussion touches and a burnished brass sound. Contrasts and detailed moments abounded and I really felt we were witnesses to very special music making that evening. Closing my eyes, I could have been at the RFH!  It was lovely also to hear the beautiful contributions to this work from the harp.

After the interval, we were treated to a truly ravishing and spectacular performance of the exotic and passionate Scheherazade, transporting me from the surroundings of a church in Horsham to some far -off  mystical scented scene in the East. Special mention must be made of Rachel’s obligatto violin linking passages. The climax and gentle calm ending to the last movement were handled brilliantly and movingly.

A truly memorable evening with the HSO on top form. The town is lucky indeed to have an orchestra of this quality with such committed playing by its players and sensitive and inspired musical direction from our indefatigable conductor, Steve.