Kendal’s series of concerts from visiting orchestras is under new management from this autumn.
After many years successfully running the series, the Lakeland Sinfonia, keen to ensure the long term viability of professional music making in Kendal, has handed
responsibility to Royal Northern Sinfonia, based at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead.
Royal Northern Sinfonia already runs concert series in Middlesbrough and Carlisle and the Kendal concerts will continue to be based at the Westmorland Hall.
Meanwhile, Lakeland Sinfonia is taking the opportunity to offer an enhanced programme of local events including intimate live and local concerts running alongside the larger scale ones at the Westmorland Hall.
The two organisations are working hand in hand to make the change over as smooth as possible and the new Kendal Classics series, which includes performances from Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Hallé has got off to a flying start with well over 1,000 tickets already sold.
New for the year ahead is a celebratory Viennese-style New Year concert, and ticket prices and discounts have also been simplified. Anyone booking two concerts at once will qualify for a 10% discount and a flat rate of £5 has been introduced for under-30s.
James Thomas, director of Royal Northern Sinfonia, said: “Kendal has long been an important part of Royal Northern Sinfonia’s touring schedule, so we have been delighted to be invited to look after the series and its future development.
“The series has been brilliantly nurtured by Lakeland Sinfonia over the years and has built a loyal following, and we’re keen to keep that while hopefully bringing in new fans with our simplified ticket offers, range of events and enhanced marketing of the concerts.”
John Pollard, of Lakeland Sinfonia, added: “As we looked to secure the future of the series it made sense for us to find a way to allow each organisation to play to its strengths.
“Royal Northern Sinfonia already run several series of concerts away from it’s Gateshead home, and with Royal Northern Sinfonia handling the concerts by visiting orchestras, this allows us to focus on growing Lakeland Sinfonia itself and put fresh energy into our own series of Lakeland Classics.”
Kendal Classics kicks off on October 26 with Royal Northern Sinfonia joined by pianist Stephen Hough, fresh from his performance at the Last Night of the Proms.
Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto is on the programme together with Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony.
The series continues with six more concerts until May 2025.
