LATEST REVIEW
SSO SEASON OPENER BRINGS LOVE AND WONDER
Review of 22nd November 2025 Concert - by Paul Nash
​
The new season of concerts from Scarborough Symphony Orchestra kicked off with a magnificently curated programme by conductor Shaun Matthew with a theme of ‘Love’s in need of love’ something we all can agree with in these current times.
The concert opened with MacMillan’s ‘Larghetto for Orchestra’, a wonderful contemplative piece which began with a beautiful melody on four cellos, lead by Imogen Lloyd which then organically spreads through the rest of the orchestra, each section responding with solo passages, building at times to fantastic tutti passages, dark and dissonant, an incredibly dynamic and powerful piece.
Next up was Rachmaninov’s ‘Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 2’ – If you’ve seen ‘Brief Encounter’ or listened to Eric Carmen’s pop ballad ‘All by Myself’ used in ‘Bridget Jones’ you’ll be familiar with the second movement melody and links with love and romance. I’d been looking forward to hearing this and I was not disappointed, it was sublime. Soloist Yuki
Negishi was incredible, beautiful both technically and emotionally. I sank into the gorgeous melodies and was whisked away to a beautiful land of love and harmony, rich and complex, expertly played by the orchestra - just gorgeous! The packed house rose to their feet in appreciation at the end of the concerto and were rewarded with an encore of a self-arranged version of Ravel’s Bolero for solo piano, another wow moment.
After the break we were treated to Tristan Watt’s ‘Jeremiah’ - a young composer from Nottingham who shows a maturity in composition well beyond his years. Beautiful haunting melodies and ambiences, both lamenting and uplifting again transporting the listener to another world.
The finale was Panufnik’s third symphony written in the 1960s, a triumph of innovation and dynamics beginning with a series of fanfares from four trumpets deliberately separated from the orchestra, and ably led by Richard Wood, before the full orchestra entered. At times I felt like I was in the middle of Hichcockian movie on a train being chased by bad guys with pistols and fedora’s, at others in a beautiful cathedral with sunlight streaming through the stained glass warming my soul. The ending neatly bookends the symphony, and the programme, with four soloists. Panufnik reprising the fanfares but this time with full orchestra backing before the inevitable huge climactic ending.
Once again the SSO were in absolute top form, it’s a treat to see music ‘live’ and when it’s played with heart, passion and love of the music it’s a wonderful experience. I can only urge you not to miss the next concert on February 7th 2026.
- Click here for tickets -