CONCERTO BUDAPEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMING TO CROYDON ON 12 SEPTEMBER

September’s pre-concert workshop will provide exclusive insights and experiences to the students of London’s first Yamaha Music School, also based at the venue.

Following the ensemble’s successful June 2022 UK debut tour, Croydon will host the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra on 12th September, performing as part of the venue’s 2023-24 International Orchestral Series.

Performing in the series including upcoming dates with ensembles from India, Ukraine and The Czech Republic, the orchestras the ensemble will be performing a programme of richly textured and virtuosic music including Lizst’s Rhapsody No. 2 and Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto, with Budapest-born piano soloist Mihaly Berecz, recipient of the Liszt-Bartók prize at the 15th Concours Géza Anda 2021.

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Andras Keller, who has directed the orchestra since 2007, will also conduct the orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 with its famed finale. Musicians will also lead a pre-concert workshop for young students of the Yamaha Music School (YMS).

Speaking about the partnership between the orchestra and the YMS, Fairfield Halls Associate Director Jonathan Higgins said:

‘Throughout this series, young people in Croydon and South London will enjoy meeting and learning from the world’s best classical music talent.’

‘These young people deserve front-row experiences and opportunities, and we’re happy that, together with this distinguished ensemble, we’re playing our part in delivering that.’

Situated close to East Croydon station and with excellent links to Central London and Sussex by road and rail, Fairfield Halls has long been a hub for the arts and for classical music. The concert hall is renowned for its excellent acoustics, and is regularly used for recordings from the UK’s top orchestras.

Following September's performance, the venue will welcome the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine on their largest UK tour in 100 years, performing as part of the Borough of Culture year 2023 from the Mayor of London.