Programme
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Petite Suite
I. En Bateau
II. Cortege
III. Menuet
IV. Ballet
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Pavane Pour Une Enfant Defunte
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Organ Concerto
Musician Biographies
With some justification Chichester Symphony Orchestra can claim to the oldest secular musical ensemble in the area still in existence. A Chichester Instrumental Society is known to have existed in 1881 and is listed in the Chichester Directory Handbook and Almanac of that year. The Society’s name made its first formal appearance in print in the ‘Bognor Observer and West Sussex Recorder’ newspaper of 25 December 1889 in which it was announced that the Society was ‘prepared to receive engagements for banquets, balls, evening parties’. This is the date the orchestra now documents for its foundation.
Over the past 25 years Chichester Symphony Orchestra has had four conductors, most recently Simon Wilkins since 2018. Simon works professionally as a music teacher, conductor, and composer. He is also an accomplished cellist. Natalia Corolscaia, who has played the violin since the age of 7, is a member of the teaching staff at the University of Chichester Conservatoire. She has been the leader of the Chichester Symphony Orchestra since 2022.
The orchestra numbers around 40 players but will bring in extra players when needed. The majority of the players are local to Chichester or live within 20 miles. New audiences and new players are both important to ensure the orchestra’s continued survival in Chichester’s cultural life for the future.
At present the orchestra gives four concerts a year including two at St Paul’s Church in Northgate – one in early April and one in July as part of the Festival of Chichester – and one at the Cathedral’s autumn lunchtime concert series. The February family concert, held at Bishop Luffa School, has a generic theme. For example, the 2023 theme was ‘magic’ and the programme included Mozart’s Magic Flute overture, the Harry Potter Symphonic Suite by John Williams, and Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens.
Charles Harrison is Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral. He received his early musical training as a chorister at Southwell Minster. He was educated at Jesus College in the University of Cambridge, where he gained a degree in music, and studied organ with David Sanger. A prize winner in the international organ competitions at St Albans and Odense, Charles has performed at many of the celebrated venues in Britain, and given solo performances around Europe. In Germany, he has played in Hannover, Lüneburg, Altenberg, Hildesheim, Leipzig, Munich, Fulda and Ingolstadt. Concerto work has included performances with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra, both broadcast by the BBC. As soloist, accompanist and continuo player he has worked with many leading performers, conductors and ensembles, including Roy Goodman, Steven Isserlis, Andreas Scholl and the BBC Singers.
Donations
Chichester Cathedral's Lunchtime Concert series is self-supporting, and thrives through the generosity of its audiences. While there is no charge for admission, we suggest a minimum donation of £7 per person, with Gift Aid applied if possible. Donations can be made in the retiring collection, in the Cathedral, at our Visitor’s Desk or at various donation points, using cash, card and contactless or using the button below.
Can't make it this time?
Lunchtime Concerts take place every Tuesday at 1.10pm during term-time, our talented performers come from across the UK and occasionally overseas, to delight our audiences with music from Beethoven to Chopin, Elgar to Mozart and more.