16th March 2026
Sunday saw the all-day rehearsal of the ‘Shostakovich Spectacular’ concert with Philip Ellis the guest conductor for this project.
Ellis was the conductor of the Birmingham Royal Ballet for over 30 years as well as appearing with top orchestras in the UK and abroad. The two popular Shostakovich pieces – the Second Piano Concerto and the Fifth Symphony – in the programme provide a contrast to the much-loved Romeo and Juliet Overture by Tchaikovsky.
The orchestra rose magnificently to the challenges of different styles of Russian music and it was clear that both they and Philip Ellis thoroughly enjoyed themselves whilst at the same time giving highly polished performances. Arriving early for a lunchtime meeting, this writer had to sit on the edge of the Orchestra, the size of the Orchestra was in itself quite a spectacle, but the sound in the last movement of the symphony in particular was quite spine tingling.
For the concerto, the Orchestra will also be joined by award-winning, Latvian pianist Antonina Suhanova.
Ticket sales for the concert on Sunday are very good which is an indication that Leicester audiences rate this programme too!
Join us on Sunday 22nd March, 3pm at De Montfort Hall. Tickets are available here.
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