Cultural Dessert

On 24 June 1990 I played in the inaugural concert by the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. The concert took place in Peterborough Cathedral, conducted by Antony Hopkins, and featured Rachmaninov’s ‘Piano Concerto No. 2’ played by Anthony Goldstone and the premiere of ‘Portrait of Peterborough’ by Amanda Stuart. It was very exciting to be a founder member of a new symphony orchestra and I soon got involved in the committee and became Chair of the orchestra in 1993. My involvement with the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra set me on the path that led eventually to becoming Chief Executive of Voluntary Arts. So I was delighted to be invited back to Peterborough Cathedral last Saturday to attend the CPSO’s 20^th Anniversary Concert – though the realisation that it’s been 20 years makes me feel extremely old! It was a splendid concert, with the orchestra giving a wonderful performance of Beethoven’s ‘Symphony No. 9’, conducted by Russell Keable and involving four local choirs. The Choral Symphony is a mammoth work and a major challenge for any orchestra. We first performed it with the CPSO in 1993, conducted by Norman Beedie, in the first of our annual ‘landmark’ concerts. Saturday’s performance was extremely impressive and the ending of the final movement was thrilling. There are only a handful of players left in the orchestra from my time in Peterborough, but it’s great to see it still going strong after 20 years. And lovely to see the indefatigable Steve Osborn and Jackie Over still driving the organisation. I’m looking forward to the 30^th anniversary concert already! (Read the Peterborough Evening Telegraph article at: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/lifestyle/culture_2_1843/music/celebrations_reach_a_crescendo_1_653796)