Archive for category: News

Beautiful music by Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Mozart feature in Firebird’s first concert of 2026 on Tuesday 10 February with cellist Aleksei Kiseliov and the dazzling soprano Elizabeth Karani…

We are thrilled to be welcoming Aleksei Kiseliov back to London for this performance of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. 

Aleksei was Principal Cellist of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for 11 years followed by an appointment with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, a role he combines with solo concerts and concertos around the world.

“Aleksei Kiseliov’s performance was just sublime.”

Dame Judi Dench, patron of London Firebird Orchestra

We are also delighted to present soprano Elizabeth Karani fresh from the stages of the Royal Opera House, Grange Park, English Touring Opera and Opera Holland Park. Elizabeth is singing Fiordiligi’s fabulous aria from Cosi fan Tutte.

Prokofiev’s thrilling Classical Symphony opens this concert with 15 minutes of neo-classical excitement and charm reflecting the world of Mozart.

Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme is similarly inspired by the classical world and is the closest Tchaikovsky ever came to writing a full concerto for cello and orchestra.

Prokofiev Classical Symphony, Op. 25
Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
Mozart Come Scoglio (Fiordiligi’s Aria from ‘Così fan Tutte’)
Mozart Symphony no. 39 in E flat, K. 543

St George’s Hanover Square: Tuesday 10 February 2026

London Firebird Orchestra | Conductor George Jackson
Cello Aleksei Kiseliov | Soprano Elizabeth Karani

Concert ticket-holders are welcome to purchase tickets for the Firebird Festival Night’s Concert: VIP Champagne & Canapé Reception on Tuesday 18 November following our fabulous concert featuring award-winning violinist Yury Revich and celebrated actor Simon Callow at St George’s Hanover Square, Mayfair…

In the concert violinist, composer and director Yury Revich brings us his ‘Festival Nights’ straight from Vienna. The main feature is an arrangement of Beethoven’s dazzling Kreutzer Sonata for Violin and String Orchestra. 

The performance will be narrated by the celebrated actor Simon Callow, reading excepts from Tolstoy’s dramatic novella of the same name The Kreutzer Sonata.

This will be complemented by beautifully melodious compositions by Yury alongside works by Massenet and Sarasate.

Following the concert there will be a Private VIP Reception hosted by Yury Revich in the Undercroft at St George’s Hanover Square. Champagne and canapés will be served. The reception will last for an hour.

Firebird Festival Night and VIP Champagne followed by Canapé Reception

St George’s Hanover Square
Tuesday 18 November 2025

Beethoven Violin Sonata no. 9 in A, Op. 49 (‘Kreutzer’)
Revich Prelude
Revich Violet
Revich Choriner Wald
Revich Clocks
Massenet Meditation from Thaïs
Sarasate Carmen Fantasy

London Firebird Orchestra
Violin / Director / Composer Yury Revich
Narrator Simon Callow

Photo credits:
Champagne image – Alexander Naglestad via Unsplash
Yury Revich – Mattia Baldi

Scan the QR code to download your FREE programme for Marc Corbett-Weaver’s Piano Recital on Tuesday 14 October.

Pianist and Artistic Director Marc Corbett-Weaver’s annual recital at St George’s Hanover Square features some of the  great master-works of the repertoire.

Piano recital with Marc Corbett-Weaver

St George’s Hanover Square:
Tuesday 14 October 2025

Bach/Busoni Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004
Beethoven Sonata in C, Op. 53 Waldstein
Liszt Sonata in B minor

Piano Marc Corbett-Weaver

Scan the QR code to download your FREE programme for our season’s opening concert on Tuesday 30 September at St Georges Hanover Square, Mayfair, London.

Firebird’s 14th season of concerts opens with the glorious Violin Concerto by Brahms with prize-winning Italian soloist Matteo Cimatti. This will be followed by the enthralling New World Symphony by Dvořák.

Dvořák’s New World

• A beautiful Violin Concerto by Brahms
• A masterpiece by Dvořák with From the New World

St George’s Hanover Square:
Tuesday 30 September 2025

London Firebird Orchestra
Conductor George Jackson
Violin Matteo Cimatti

The opening concert of  Firebird’s 14th Season on Tuesday 30 September features Dvořák’s masterpiece From the New World and Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D with Italian violinist Matteo Cimatti and our truly outstanding Firebird
orchestra…

Two monumental composers from the Romantic era – yet from two different musical worlds. 

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), who frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. He was ‘arguably the most versatile… composer of his time’ (Music in the 19th century, OUP) and became an international figure who spent much of his career in New York. 

By contrast, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was considered relatively conservative, yet continuing on the line of great symphonists from Beethoven. His music remains a staple of the concert repertoire to this day.

Brahm’s was partly responsible for Dvořák’s success, being on the Jury for the Austrian State Prize for composition which Dvořák won aged age 33. Brahms was said to be ‘visibly overcome’ by the ‘mastery and talent’ of the younger composer.

Our soloist for the Brahms concerto will be the prize-winning Italian violinist Matteo Cimatti. Fresh from engagements and competitions across Europe, Matteo’s playing has been praised by ANSA for ‘refined playing and melodious and intense tone’. His rich singing style is perfectly suited to the Brahms.

Dvořák’s New World

The season’s opening concert features Dvořák’s masterpiece From the New World and Brahms‘ Violin Concerto in D with Italian violinist Matteo Cimatti.

St George’s Hanover Square
Tuesday 30 September 2025

London Firebird Orchestra
Conductor George Jackson
Violin Matteo Cimatti