Fairytale forests, an elegant serenade, a captivating waltz and the stirring landscapes of Finland will fill Wymondham Abbey when Wymondham Symphony Orchestra presents its autumn concert on Saturday, November 21.

The orchestra will perform a programme packed with atmosphere and colour, ranging from the enchanted world of Hansel and Gretel to the triumphant conclusion of Sibelius’s much-loved Second Symphony.

The concert begins at 7pm in the historic surroundings of Wymondham Abbey, providing an appropriately dramatic setting for an evening of music.

Opening the concert will be the Prelude to Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera Hansel and Gretel. Based on the Brothers Grimm tale, the opera began with a set of songs written for children before developing into a full-scale stage work. Its Prelude introduces the story through warmly glowing brass, lyrical melodies and richly woven orchestral colours. A serene opening suggests the children’s evening prayer, while livelier passages hint at adventure, magic and the dangers waiting in the forest.

The fairy-tale of Humperdinck will be followed by Richard Strauss’s Serenade in E-flat for wind instruments. Written in 1881 when Strauss was still a teenager, this work already reveals his remarkable ear. Scored for 13 wind players, it blends flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns into a mellow, finely balanced ensemble.

A very different kind of elegance arrives with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2. Its instantly recognisable melody has the sweep of a ballroom dance, but beneath the polished surface lies a characteristic hint of unease. The steady three-beat rhythm and prominent saxophone give the music a smoky, theatrical quality, while its shifts between light and shade make it feel by turns glamorous, playful and haunting.

The evening’s major work will be Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2 in D major. Beginning with gentle, rising figures in the strings, the symphony seems to grow organically from a handful of small musical ideas. Pastoral calm gives way to darker and more turbulent episodes, including a brooding slow movement and an exhilarating scherzo driven by racing strings. Without a break, the scherzo gathers momentum and opens into the broad melody of the finale.

Although Sibelius resisted attaching a specific political or patriotic story to the work, the Second Symphony has often been associated with Finland’s landscape and national aspirations. Its journey from quiet uncertainty to radiant D major has helped make it one of the composer’s most popular works.

Tickets are available online here or if you prefer a hard copy, there are tickets available at the Wymondham Abbey shop. Get your tickets early to avoid disappointment! Tickets are £15 for adults, £13 for Friends of WSO, and free for under-18s.

Want to get involved?

We’re a friendly group playing fantastic symphony repertoire with regular rehearsals at Central Hall in the heart of Wymondham. If you’re interested in joining the orchestra, we’d love to hear from you. In particular, we’re on the lookout for viola (grade 7 or above), double bass, trombones, and percussion players. More details about the orchestra and how to join can be found at wymondhamsymphonyorchestra.co.uk.

Discounted tickets?

Join the Friends of Wymondham Orchestra to get tickets at a discounted price, seat reservations, and orchestra news. Find out more on our website.