Bohemian Rhapsody!

No – not Freddy Mercury’s 1970s progressive rock hit – this is Firebird’s next concert with a curious link to the exotic land of Bohemia…

Our 30 April concert takes us to the very heart of Central Europe with one of the greatest works by the Czech composer Dvořák (pictured below). Dvořák’s musical style is inextricably linked with the traditional folk music of Moravia and Bohemia. 

His cheery and lyrical 8th Symphony is a perfect example of this musical influence from his homeland, composed on the occasion of his election to the Bohemian Academy of Science, Literature and Arts in 1890.

The concert opens with Beethoven’s heroic Leonora Overture. Beethoven (pictured below) actually wrote four overtures for his only opera Fidelio, struggling to balance the intense drama with the calmer opening scenes in the opera.

Beethoven
Beethoven

It wasn’t until the 1841 revival of the opera that he composed this somewhat lighter version – with the first performance outside Vienna talking place that year in Prague – which is of course in Bohemia!

In between these two masterworks we have one of the most admired works for piano and orchestra in the repertoire with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.20. This work was so admired by Beethoven that he frequently performed it himself. In our concert it will be performed by our soloist, Martin James Bartlett (pictured below).

‘Martin James Bartlett brought maximum feeling to the music and played with astonishing delicacy and punch.’

The Daily Telegraph

The concert will be conducted by our very own George Jackson (pictured below). Tickets are now on sale for this fantastic evening of great music.

Bohemia

George Jackson

Tuesday 30 April 2024, 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square
2A Mill Street, Mayfair, London W1S 1FX

Beethoven 
Leonore Overture No.3, Op.72
Mozart 
Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K.466
Dvořák 
Symphony No.8 in G, Op. 88

Conductor George Jackson
Piano Martin James Bartlett

Five things you didn’t know about the solo clarinettist in our next concert…

‘…from the very first note, there is a great artist on stage.’ says the press… so don’t miss Jonathan Leibovitz’s Firebird debut on 27 February.

1. As part of the celebrations of Classic FM’s 30th birthday in 2022, Jonathan was one of 30 outstanding young musicians from across the globe nominated as aRising Star Artist.

2. Jonathan received 25,000 Swiss francs in prize money as the 2022 winner of the prestigious Arther Waser Prizetogether with concert engagements with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra.

3. Jonathan has performed as a concerto soloist across Europe with some of the world’s greatest orchestras.

Jonathan Leibovitz

‘Leibovitz is a passionate communicator, mastering these showy, virtuosic variations with ease and fluency.’

Classic Melbourne – Bendigo Chamber Music Festival

4. Jonathan is an avid chamber musician having recorded and given concerts at festival across Europe, in Australia at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival, and in South America as part of a concert tour of Colombia.

5. Jonathan completed his Masters at the Music Academy in Basel in Switzerland with Brazilian clarinettist François Benda.  

Jonathan Leibovitz

Clarinet Fair

Tuesday 27 February 2024, 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square
2A Mill Street, Mayfair, London W1S 1FX

Mendelssohn: Die Schöne Melusine Op.32 (The Fair Melusine)
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A, K.622
Beethoven: Symphony No.2 in D, Op.36

Jonathan Leibovitz clarinet
Michael Thrift conductor

Orchestra

All the Fun of the Fair

We have a real treat in store on 27 February when clarinetist Jonathan Leibovitz performs Mozart’s much-loved Clarinet Concerto…

Mozart

Cheery yet graceful, this beautiful work is considered to be Mozart’s swan-song and his last great completed work. It’s also been featured in several films including The King’s Speech and Out of Africa.

Prize-winner at the YCAT (London) and CAG (New York) International Auditions, Jonathan went on to receive the prestigious Arthur Waser Foundation and Lucerne Symphony Orchestra Award.

In 2022 he was nominated as a Rising Star Artist by Classic FM.

‘From the very first note, there is a great artist on stage…’

Luzerner Zeitung

The concert will be conducted by our very own Michael Thrift and the programme will also include two wonderful pieces of orchestral music:

  • An exotic concert overture by Mendelssohn: Die Schöne Melusine (The Fair Melusine) which hints at the legend of the water-nymph Melusine.
  • Beethoven’s Second Symphony, filled with humour and energy, but at times lyrical and dramatic. 

Clarinet Fair

Tuesday 27 February 2024, 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square
2A Mill Street, Mayfair, London W1S 1FX

Mendelssohn Die Schöne Melusine Op.32 (The Fair Melusine)
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K.622
Beethoven Symphony no.2 in D, Op.36

Jonathan Leibovitz clarinet
Michael Thrift conductor

Cringlemire Garden

How did a remote garden in the Lake District inspire a wonderful piece of music which you can hear in the next Firebird concert at Kings Place on 28 January?

British composer Ruth Gipps (1921-1999) belonged to that generation of post WW2 English composers following on from the post-romantic tradition of the likes of Vaughan Williams, Bax, Ireland and Holst.

Ruth Gipps

‘She was an all-rounder in the best sense of the term, and her contribution to British musical life over five decades is both immeasurable and enduring.’

Bret Johnson The Guardian

Ruth Gipps produced more than 70 works, including five symphonies. Many of her compositions were inspired by the landscape of the South-East of England. 

But the gorgeous Cringlemire Garden is inspired by the rural landscape in the north-east near Troutbeck, in the Lake District.

Cringlemire was designed by architect Dan Gibson in the 1890s for Henry Martin as an  arboricultural museum. Described as an Impression for string orchestra’, this six minute tone poem premiered in 1952 and describes the feelings of being in this garden surrounded by the dramatic landscape of the Lake District. 

The Firebird Orchestra will be conducted by George Jackson. With pianist Harris Tsz-Chun Leung and soprano Sian Dicker, this concert will also feature music by two of the greatest names from the classical era, Haydn and Mozart.

Garden of Fire

Sunday 28 January 2024, 6.30pm
Kings Place, London

Ruth Gipps Cringlemire Garden: Impression for string orchestra, Op. 39
Mozart Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat, K. 271 ‘Jeunehomme’
Mozart Voi avete un cor fedele, K. 217
Haydn Symphony No. 59 in A, Hob. I:59 ‘Fire’

Garden of Fire

Lake District photograph by James Armes on Unsplash

Season’s Greetings from Firebird

2023 has been a fantastic year for Firebird with some particularly memorable concerts.

Thank you all for your invaluable support this year. We look forward to seeing you at our truly amazing line up coming up in 2024…

And as we’ve been VERY VERY good this year…

…we’d be thrilled if you’d like to give us a little Christmas present…

You can support the orchestra from as little as £100 to help us continue with our important work for young musicians.

Garden of Fire

After the seasonal festivities Firebird brings you a fiery start to 2024 with this sensational programme of music at Kings Place on 28 January…

Conducted by George Jackson, the Firebird Orchestra will be joined by pianist Harris Tsz-Chun Leung and soprano Sian Dicker for this concert. It will feature music by two of the greatest names from the classical era, Haydn and Mozart, together with a rarely performed beautiful fantasy by British composer Ruth Gipps.

Ruth Gipps (1921-1999) produced more than 70 works, including five symphonies. She belonged to that generation of post WW2 English composers of the post-romantic afterglow of Vaughan Williams, Bax, Ireland and Holst.

British composer Ruth Gipps is enjoying something of a renaissance with her lyrical orchestral writing and romantic inspiration which we will hear in her gorgeous Cringlemire Garden.

‘She was an all-rounder in the best sense of the term, and her contribution to British musical life over five decades is both immeasurable and enduring’.

Bret Johnson, The Guardian

By contrast the concert ends with Haydn’s so-called ‘Fire Symphony’ This was an early work composed in the 1760s when in the employ of Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy. The title was originally thought to refer to the fiery nature of the composition.

n between, two glorious works by Mozart with talented pianist Harris Tsz-Chun Leung performing a piano concerto described by Alfred Brendel as one of the ‘wonders of the world,’ and the beautiful voice of Sian Dicker performing one of his popular concert arias.

Garden of Fire

Sunday 28 January 2024 6.30pm
Kings Place, London

Ruth Gipps Cringlemire Garden: Impression for string orchestra, Op. 39
Mozart Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat, K. 271 ‘Jeunehomme’
Mozart Voi avete un cor fedele, K. 217
Haydn Symphony No. 59 in A, Hob. I:59 ‘Fire’

Firebird Chamber Platform: The Avalon Trio

The Avalon Trio bring a delightful programme of music to St. George’s Hanover Square on 14 November…

This will be the second in the Firebird Chamber Platform series of concerts giving a much needed opportunity for smaller scale ensembles to perform under the Firebird banner.

Who are the Avalon Trio

Violinist Louis Solon, Cellist Seb Williams and Pianist Benji Lock discovered their shared passion for Russian Romantic music during their time at the Purcell School following a play through of the Tchaikovsky Piano Trio. The name ‘The Avalon Trio’ not only represents their Celtic roots but also refers to the mythical island of Avalon, a place of mystery and magic encapsulating the spirit of Russian Romantic music.

The Trio has performed in venues including the Wigmore Hall, the Elgar Concert Hall, Bracknell Music Festival and the Purcell School. As well as the upcoming recital at St George’s Hanover Square, the trio looks forward to performances at Sledmere House, Benslow Music and the Budleigh Music Festival.

Avalon Trio

‘Our debut chamber performance at Wigmore Hall was an incredible experience that we will remember forever because of the hall’s history and incredible acoustic’

Benji Lock Piano

Tell us about the music the Trio is performing?

“On 14 November, as well as playing the Haydn’s wonderful ‘Gypsy Rondo’ Trio, we will also be showcasing two of our favourite works by two of the greatest of the Russian romantics composers: Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. There is something about the sheer intensity within the music as well as the sweeping melodies which really inspires us.”

What are your plans for the future as a Trio?

“Our dreams include performing among some of the most prestigious concert halls worldwide and collaborate with many musicians and share our passion for the music we play to the world, discovering and promoting lesser-known piano trios.

We also hugely enjoy exploring lesser-known composers – for instance we are currently working on the Babadjanian Piano Trio which we feel is an extremely underrated piano trio combining Armenian folk influences with Western classical traditions.”

St George's Hanover Square
St George’s Hanover Square

Firebird Chamber Platform: The Avalon Trio

Tuesday 14 November, 7.30pm
St George’s Hanover Square

Haydn Piano Trio no. 39 in G, Hob. XV/25 Gypsy Rondo
Rachmaninoff Trio Élégiaque no.1 in G minor, Op. Post.
Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50

Fabulous Music from Firebird’s 2023/24 Season

Further details on our sensational 2023/24 Season are now here. Check out our fantastic Firebird Concerts for a night out to remember…

Avalon Trio

Firebird Chamber Platform: The Avalon Trio

Tuesday 14 November 2023
St George’s Hanover Square

Haydn Piano Trio no. 39 in G, Hob. XV/25 Gypsy Rondo
Rachmaninoff Trio Élégiaque no.1 in G minor, Op. Post.
Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50

Violin Louis Solon
Cello Seb Williams
Piano Benji Lock

The second in the Firebird Chamber Platform series presents this wonderful instrumental combination performing music from three of the greatest names from the 18th and 19th centuries.

‘We are delighted to announce details of our 2023/24 Concert Season and look forward to seeing you all at the concerts.’

Marc Corbett-Weaver, Artistic Director
Garden of Fire

Garden of Fire

Sunday 28 January 2024 
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG

Ruth Gipps Cringlemire Garden: Impression for string orchestra, Op. 39
Mozart Piano Concerto no. 9 in E flat, K. 271 (‘Jeunehomme’)
Mozart Voi avete un cor fedele, K. 217
Haydn Symphony No. 59 in A, Hob. I:59 ‘Fire’

Conductor George Jackson
Piano Harris Tsz-Chun Leung
Soprano Sian Dicker

This concert is alive with the verve of youth from the classical masters and the dextrous piano playing of Harris Tsz-Chun Leung. We also feature exquisite music from British composer Ruth Gipps. 

Clarinet Fair

Clarinet Fair

Tuesday 27 February 2024 
St George’s Hanover Square

Mendelssohn Die Schöne Melusine (The Fair Melusine)
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622
Beethoven Symphony no. 2 in D, Op. 36

Clarinet Jonathan Leibovitz
Conductor Michael Thrift

Featuring Mozart’s sublime concerto for clarinet with the vibrant playing of Jonathan Leibovitz alongside masterworks from the classical and romantic world under the baton of Michael Thrift.

European Classics: The Emperor

European Classics: Emperor

Tuesday 30 April 2024 
St George’s Hanover Square

Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat, Op. 72 The Emperor
Dvorak Symphony no. 8 in G, Op. 88

Conductor George Jackson
Piano George Harliono

Beethoven’s vast and heroic fifth piano concerto may not be associated with any emperor, yet it stands proud as one of the most admired works in the repertoire. Talented pianist George Harliono returns to perform this magnificent work.

Firebird conductors Michael Thrift and George Jackson

Firebird for Schools

Firebird for Schools

Thursday 16 May 2024 
St George’s Hanover Square

Programme to include:
Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf.

Conductor Michael Thrift

As part of our ongoing commitment to presenting tailor-made concerts for schoolchildren, London Firebird Orchestra introduces young people to the magical world of the orchestra with a selection of well-known classical works.

Yury Revich Olario

Forests & Fantasy

Tuesday 11 June 2024 
St George’s Hanover Square

Revich Olario Prelude
Gershwin/Frolov Fantasy on themes from Porgy and Bess
Revich Olario Choriner Wald (the Forest of Chorin)
Massenet Méditation from Thais
Bizet/Sarasate Carmen Fantasy
Sibelius Symphony no. 2 in D, Op. 43

Violin Yury Revich Olario
Conductor Michael Thrift

Firebird and conductor Michael Thrift bring orchestral favourites from around the world with a welcome return by the amazing violinist and composer Yury Revich Olario.

London Firebird Orchestra

Download your free programme for Tuesday’s concert

You can find out more about the amazing music by Elgar and Vaughan Williams which will feature in The English Landscape concert conducted by George Jackson by downloading your free programme.

Tuesday 19 September 7.30pm 
St George’s Hanover Square, London

Top international cellist Maciej Kułakoswki performs what is now recognised as one of the greatest works of the 20th century: Edward Elgar’s famous Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85.

Composed in 1919, this captivating work was to be Elgar’s final notable work and has become a cornerstone of the solo cello repertoire.

The Symphony No.5 in D Major by Ralph Vaughan Williams was an immediate success at its 1943 premiere. Most notable is the serenity of the work itself as contrasted with the severity of the war then in progress, as well as the allusions to The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony no. 5 in D

Conductor George Jackson
Cello Maciej Kułakoswki 

Discover a wealth of fabulous music in the 2023/2024 season of Firebird concerts – see what’s on to find all the details and to book tickets online.

European Classics: The English Landscape

Tuesday 19 September 7.30pm 
St George’s Hanover Square, London

Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony no. 5 in D

Conductor George Jackson
Cello Maciej Kułakoswki 

Music by Elgar and Vaughan Williams – two of the greatest British composers – give a distinctive ‘Englishness’ to the next Firebird concert…

When you imagine the quintessential English landscape park or garden the works of Capability Brown probably spring to mind with places such as Stourhead in Wiltshire. 

But this was not just an English phenomenon – it was part of a European-wide movement which was sweeping away the formal symmetry of the gardens of the earlier centuries.

The inspiration for this new wave of landscape was inspired by the idealistic paintings of the likes of Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorrain (pictured).

It took until the 20th century before the spirit of Englishness was truly captured in a musical sense, and the two works in this concert demonstrate this with real beauty and passion.


Elgar’s iconic Cello Concerto is a cornerstone of the solo cello repertoire. Composed in the aftermath of the First World War its contemplative and elegiac mood captures the sprit of a lost age.


Vaughan Williams

As the perfect foil to this we have a great symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams. An immediate success since its 1943 premiere, many of the musical themes stem from his then-unfinished opera, The Pilgrim’s Progress.


Cover photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash