Chromatica: A new orchestra is born
Introducing Chromatica Orchestra
I am told of a new orchestra, and the press release is below. I hope to report on the Batttersea concert (the Barber Violin Concerto is heard far too little os this is a rare chance ...)
Classical music welcomes a vibrant new addition with Chromatica Orchestra, which debuts at Battersea Arts Centre on Tuesday 8th October 2024.
This new orchestra brings together gifted early-career musicians under the direction of emerging conductors who will be offered the chance to devise and conduct complete programmes for performance.
The circle of support for young talent will be completed with school-age musicians from across the country playing side by side with the orchestra on the professional stage.
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Working With Emerging Conductors
Chromatica Orchestra is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musical talent. The orchestra connects early-career musicians with young conductors who will take the baton for complete performances throughout the season.
As part of this commitment, the orchestra has introduced an Emerging Conductor Fellowship, which will see these conductors lead complete performances, define programmes and guide repertoire choices throughout the season. For its inaugural season, the orchestra is proud to welcome Charlotte Politi, who was the Fellow Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra for 2023/24 and is the Constant Lambert Associate with the Royal Ballet, and Tess Jackson, who was recently named a Classic FM ‘Rising Star’ and is currently Associate Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra, with whom she recently debuted at the BBC Proms to critical acclaim.
Speaking about her appointment as Emerging Conductor Fellow, Tess Jackson commented:
I’m delighted to be joining this dynamic new orchestra for two fantastic programmes this season, and to be collaborating with Ben Goldscheider on Strauss’s Horn Concerto No.1.
Founding Artistic Director Peter Manning added:
Both Tess and Charlotte are very exciting artists who have quickly gained recognition for their exceptional talents. I am confident that their contributions will not only inspire our musicians but also resonate deeply with our audiences.
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Working with School-Age Musicians
Education and creative learning are central to Chromatica Orchestra’s identity. Throughout each season, the orchestra will work with children in schools across the country. They will perform side by side with the orchestra on stage at Chromatica Orchestra’s main season concerts.
In the 2024/25 season, the orchestra will collaborate with the David Ross Education Trust and Music in Secondary Schools Trust, initiated by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The orchestra's musicians will visit schools to help form and develop school orchestras. This initiative will inspire students and give them the chance to perform alongside Chromatica Orchestra’s players in full joint rehearsals and concerts throughout the season.
Chromatica Orchestra Chairman Charles Lewington commented:
Investing in music education isn't just about cultivating potential future stars; it's about enriching lives and communities, instilling valuable life skills such as teamwork and problem-solving, and sharing the joy of live music-making. Supporting music education is a cause that means a lot to us at Chromatica Orchestra, and we’re proud to be able to work with these talented young people and share the joy that music can bring.
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The Inaugural Season
Chromatica Orchestra’s first season, "Orchestra Unleashed," promises a dynamic mix of performances showcasing the talent and versatility of its musicians.
The inaugural concert will take place on Tuesday 8th October 2024 at Battersea Arts Centre. With conductor Charlotte Politi at the helm, the orchestra arrives in spine-tingling style with Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. Kristine Balanas stars in Barber’s Violin Concerto; after the interval, she is joined by Chromatica Orchestra Leader Maren Bosma in Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins. Georgian mezzo-soprano Natalia Kutateladze, a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School, brings the evening to a close with Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo (Love Bewitched).
Further highlights later in the season include:
- On Armistice Day, an evening of music and readings, opening with Butterworth’s Two English Idylls and The Banks of Green Willow followed by Strauss’s Horn Concerto No 1 performed by BenGoldscheider and Shostakovich’s spirited Chamber Symphony which he dedicated to ‘the victims of fascism and war’ (Southwark Cathedral, 11th November 2024). Tess Jackson from the orchestra's Emerging Conductors’ Fellowship Scheme directs this moving programme.
- Britten’s "Les illuminations" featuring acclaimed tenor Robin Tritschler conducted by Peter Manning (Wilton’s Music Hall, 11th February 2025).
- We present a world premiere of a new narration for Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals in an interactive, immersive performance for primary school children. The project includes Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music in Secondary Schools’ (MISST) Academy Orchestra, directed by Tess Jackson (Battersea Arts Centre, 19th February 2025).
- An immersive performance inspired by the sea, taking as its starting point Anna Clyne’s Overflow conducted by Peter Manning (Milton Court Concert Hall, 3rd April 2025).
- A rousing season finale with outstanding soloist Valeriy Sokolov who performs Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, alongside contemporary works by Einojuhani Rautavaara, Cantus Arcticus – concerto for birds and orchestra, and Kaija Saariaho, Terra Memoria (Saffron Hall, 8 June 2025).
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A New Executive Director
Chromatica Orchestra also announces the appointment of Alison Tedbury as its Executive Director. Tedbury formerly served as Interim CEO at the Academy of St Martin’s in the Fields, after several years leading the Concerts, Touring and Planning Department. She previously worked as Orchestra Manager at The Royal Opera House, and Contracts Manager at the Royal Ballet.
Speaking about her appointment, Alison said: "I'm excited to join Chromatica Orchestra for its inaugural season. This is an organisation that pushes boundaries, and its inventiveness and aspiration are together a draw and a testament to the whole team. I look forward to shaping its exciting future".
Formerly known as Bath Festival Orchestra, the orchestra continues to build on its rich legacy while forging a new path in the world of classical music.
For more information, visit https://www.chromaticaorchestra.com/