Bournemouth Sinfonietta
| Company type | Subsidiary ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music / Classical orchestra |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Defunct | November 1999 |
| Headquarters | Bournemouth , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Southern and western England, United Kingdom |
Key people | George Hurst (artistic adviser), Nicholas Braithwaite (artistic adviser), Maurice Gendron (1971–73), Kenneth Montgomery (1973–77), Volker Wangenheim (1977–80), Ronald Thomas (1980–85), Roger Norrington (1985–89), Tamás Vásáry (1989–97), Alexander Polianichko (1997–99) |
| Products | Classical music performances, recordings |
| Parent | Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra |
The Bournemouth Sinfonietta was a chamber orchestra established in 1968 as a subsidiary ensemble of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. It ceased operations in November 1999, primarily due to financial difficulties stemming from reduced local council funding, which led to an increased emphasis on government support directed toward its larger parent orchestra.
Formation
The orchestra was initially led by George Hurst as artistic adviser alongside Nicholas Braithwaite. It specialized in performing classical works within smaller venues located throughout southern and western regions of England. In its early years, musicians alternated between the Symphony Orchestra and the Sinfonietta; however, this shared 'pool of players' arrangement was discontinued in 1969. Consequently, the Sinfonietta became a fully autonomous group with a greater number of musicians transitioning from the BSO.
Concert repertoire
The Sinfonietta made its London debut on 9 January 1969 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, featuring pieces by Seiber, Milhaud, Webern, and Varèse under the baton of Edgar Cosma.
Significant world premieres presented by the orchestra included:
| Composition | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Shanai-Awaz | 1982 | Composed by John Mayer |
| Cantiga (op. 45) | 1988 | By David Matthews |
| The Green Ray | 1991 | By Gavin Bryars |
| Percussion Concerto | 1991 | By Dominic Muldowney |
| Where The Bee Dances | 1991 | By Michael Nyman |
| Bean Rows and Blues Shots (saxophone concerto) | 1991 | By Mike Westbrook |
| The Song of the Tortoise, a cautionary tale for narrator, voices and orchestra | 1992 | By Giles Swayne |
| So in Darkness | 1993 | By Sadie Harrison |
| Concerto Antico for guitar and orchestra | 1994 | By Richard Harvey |
| Concerto for hurdy-gurdy and percussion | 1994 | By Howard Skempton |
| Concerto for String Orchestra | 1997 | By Rutland Boughton (originally composed 1937) |
| The song should never be silent, Side by side, The sleep of reason | 1997 | By Colin Riley |
The Bournemouth Sinfonietta gained national acclaim, appearing at The Proms in the years 1977, 1988, and 1992. It also embarked on international tours to countries including Germany (1987), Italy and Turkey (1992), Romania (1994), Spain (1991, 1995), Brazil (1996), and France (1997). Its performances spanned a variety of settings, ranging from intimate regional halls to larger concert venues. Between 1974 and 1986, the ensemble functioned as the resident orchestra for Glyndebourne on Tour.
The orchestra's commitment to educational initiatives was recognized with a Prudential Award and Sainsbury's "Arts for All" accolade. While touring Romania in collaboration with 'Musika in Romania,' it engaged in concerts and community outreach activities involving schools and orphanages.
Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir
Established in 1972, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir remains active, delivering performances throughout Dorset and other regions. As of 2008, its conductor was David Gostick, who also served as organist at Wimborne Minster.
Principal conductors
| Conductor | Tenure | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Maurice Gendron | 1971–73 | Served as Conductor and Director |
| Kenneth Montgomery | 1973–77 | |
| Volker Wangenheim | 1977–80 | |
| Ronald Thomas | 1980–85 | Musical Director; previously Leader since 1976 |
| Roger Norrington | 1985–89 | |
| Tamás Vásáry | 1989–97 | Also held the role of Artistic Director; named Conductor Laureate from 1997 to 1999 |
| Alexander Polianichko | 1997–99 |
Recordings
The Orchestra boasts a broad discography covering repertoire from Baroque compositions to modern pieces, demonstrating both adaptability and a wide commercial appeal. Significant recordings include:
- Eduardo Angulo: Guitar Concerto No 2 (Rafael Jiménez/ Terence Frazor)
- Thomas Arne: Symphonies Nos. 1–4 (Kenneth Montgomery)
- Malcolm Arnold: Flute, Horn, Clarinet, Oboe and Trumpet Concertos (Norman Del Mar)
- J C Bach: Sinfonias Op. 6.3, Op. 9.2, Op. 18.2 & 4 (Kenneth Montgomery)
- C P E Bach: Cello Concertos (Tim Hugh/ Richard Studt)
- Granville Bantock: Pierrot of the Minute (Norman Del Mar)
- Béla Bartók: Divertimento for Strings (Richard Studt)
- Richard Blackford: Mirror of Perfection (Ying Huang, Bo Skovhus/ Richard Blackford)
- Frank Bridge: Suite for Strings, Summer (Norman del Mar)
- George Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow (Norman del Mar)
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Violin Concerto & Romances Nos. 1 & 2 (Ronald Thomas)
- Luigi Boccherini: Cello Concertos (Frédéric Lodéon/ Theodor Guschlbauer)
- William Boyce: The Eight Symphonies (Ronald Thomas)
- Benjamin Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Simple Symphony (Ronald Thomas)
- Gavin Bryars: The Green Ray (John Harle/ Ivor Bolton)
- Frederick Delius: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, A Song before Sunrise, Late Swallows (Norman Del Mar)
- Georg Druschetzky: Partita for Six Timpani and Orchestra, Concerto for Oboe, Eight Timpani & Orchestra (Jonathan Haas, Gordon Hunt/ Harold Farberman)
- Edward Elgar: Various works including Chanson de Matin & Chanson de Nuit, Serenade in E minor, and suites (Leon Goossens/ Norman Del Mar; George Hurst)
- Johann Christian Fischer: Symphony for Eight Timpani & Orchestra (Jonathan Haas/ Harold Farberman)
- Percy Grainger: Several suites and folk-inspired compositions (Moray Welsh, Philip Martin/ Kenneth Montgomery)
- Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite (Richard Studt)
- George Handel: Opera overtures (Kenneth Montgomery)
- Joseph Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 87, 88, 103, and 104; Cello and Organ Concertos (Ronald Thomas; Frédéric Lodéon/ Theodor Guschlbauer; Marie-Claire Alain/ Theodor Guschlbauer)
- Michael Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 19, 21, 23, 26, 29, 37, 39, and 41 (Harold Farberman)
- Gustav Holst: St Paul's Suite (George Hurst)
- Arthur Honegger: Symphony No.4 and Pastorale d'été (Tamás Vásáry)
- John Ireland: Concertino Pastorale (George Hurst)
- Bohuslav Martinu: Various symphonic works (Tamás Vásáry)
- David Matthews: Cantiga, September Music, Introit (Jill Gomez/ John Carewe)
- E J Moeran: Sinfonietta and Cello Concerto (Raphael Wallfisch/ Norman del Mar)
- W A Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 36 & 39; Four Horn Concertos; Piano Concerto No.21; Serenade in C minor K388; Violin Concertos Nos.3 & 4; Sinfonia Concertante; Clarinet and Oboe Concertos (Various conductors and soloists including Terence Fragor, Michael Thompson, Tamás Vásáry, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Richard Studt)
- Carl Nielsen: Little Suite for Strings (Montgomery/ Studt)
- Michael Nyman: Where the Bee Dances (John Harle/ Ivor Bolton)
- Arvo Pärt: Tabula rasa and additional pieces (Tasmin Little/ Richard Studt)
- Henry Purcell: Overtures (Ronald Thomas)
- Respighi: The Birds, Il tramonto, Trittico Botticelliano (Tamás Vásáry)
- Joaquin Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjüez (Rafael Jiménez/ Terence Frazor)
- Edmund Rubbra : Improvisations and Symphony No.10 (Hans-Hubert Schönzeler)
- John Rutter: Requiem and choral-orchestral works (Stephen Layton)
- Camille Saint-Saëns : Cello Concertos Nos.1 & 2; Suite Op.16 (Maria Kliegel, Jean-Francois Monnard)
- Charles Villiers Stanford : Symphony No.3 'Irish' (Norman del Mar)
- Igor Stravinsky: Pulcinella; Concerto in D for string orchestra (Ian Bostridge, Henry Herford/ Stefan Sanderling; Richard Studt)
- Arthur Sullivan : Operetta selections (Valerie Masterson, Robert Tear/ Kenneth Alwyn)
- Johan Svendsen: Icelandic Melodies and Scandinavian Folksongs (Richard Studt)
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: Overture 'The Poisoned Kiss', hymn preludes, Sea Songs; Flos campi suite for viola and orchestra (George Hurst; Frederick Riddle/ Norman Del Mar)
- Heitor Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concerto (Rafael Jiménez/ Terence Frazor)
- Antonio Vivaldi: Twelve Concertos Op.8 (Ronald Thomas)
- Peter Warlock: Capriol Suite (George Hurst)
- Samuel Wesley: Symphony in D (Kenneth Montgomery)
- Mike Westbrook: Bean Rows and Blues Shots (John Harle/ Ivor Bolton)
- Dag Wiren: Serenade for Strings (Kenneth Montgomery/ Richard Studt)
Recording sessions took place at venues such as Southampton Guildhall, Christchurch Priory, Poole Arts Centre, and the Bournemouth Winter Gardens.