In the 2006/2007 season The Hull Philharmonic celebrated its 125th Anniversary with an exciting programme of concerts which suited all musical tastes.
In June 1881 a small group of people gathered in the George Hotel in Hull and proposed the formation of a society for the practise of orchestral music. With just 27 playing members and with a devoted committee and patrons the Hull Philharmonic Society was born. Now approaching its 125th anniversary the Hull Philharmonic is one of the oldest established music societies and orchestras in the UK. In 1989 the Society was established as a registered charity.
Under its current award winning Musical Director Andrew Penny, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength and has proved itself capable of tackling some of the most challenging works of the orchestral repertoire. Its performances have been favourably compared with many visiting professional orchestras.
Concerts and artists
The Hull Philharmonic gives three concerts each year in Hull's magnificent City Hall. Our repertoire includes all the popular composers as well as a few who may be less well known. Two concerts each year are devoted to playing popular classical works and one focuses on works that might not otherwise be heard in Hull.
Many world famous soloists and conductors have been associated with the Hull Philharmonic including Peter Donohoe (piano), Tasmin Little (violin), Nigel Kennedy (violin), David Lloyd-Jones (conductor), Isabelle Faust (violin), Sarah Beth Briggs (piano), Jonathan Leathwood (guitar), Evgeny Soifertis (piano), Christine Rice (mezzo soprano), Chiao-Ying Chang (piano) and Sam West (narrator for Walton's Henry V). In past years artists such as Janet Baker, Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortelier, Vladimir Ashkenazy and many others have been guests of the orchestra. We also regularly feature emerging talent and soloists who have received acclaim in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and the Leeds International Piano competitions.
The Repertoire
With its aims of studying and practicing orchestral music and to foster public knowledge and appreciation of such music, choosing the repertoire can present significant problems, especially in the light of music chosen and performed by other orchestras visiting the city. The first tentative steps in deciding the programme for a season will be made up to five years before the planned performance. Such is the capability and experience of the Hull Philharmonic that that no composer is 'out of bounds'.
In November 1999 with the involvement of many local choirs and choral societies the Orchestra gave two performances of Mahler's massive Symphony No. 8 - The Symphony of a Thousand - in celebration of the Millennium. The Hull Philharmonic was possibly the only society in the UK capable of undertaking such a project. The two performances involved over 600 musicians and singers and were rewarded by critical acclaim in the press.
Hull Philharmonic Trust
The Society is not only concerned with its own orchestral performances. Through an entirely separate organisation, the Hull Philharmonic Trust established in 1983, it has provided grants and bursaries to young musicians to support them through their musical education as well as commissioning new musical compositions.
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