Scottish Sinfonia: Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony

Berlioz: Overture: Le Carnaval Romain 
Fauré: Incidental Music: ‘Caligula’, with Linlithgow Ladies Choir, director Kirsty Ball 
Debussy: Dances - Danse sacrée et Danse profane, soloist: Helen Thompson (harp) 
Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ Symphony’ 
  
Conducted by Neil Mantle MBE 
  
We conclude this, our 55th season, with a French evening. The concert opens with Berlioz’s most brightly coloured overture: The Roman Carnival. The pace then relaxes to provide you with an opportunity to hear little-known works by Fauré and Debussy. For the latter, we feature our principal harpist, Helen Thompson, in this hypnotic and typically sensual work. The crowning glory concluding this performance, and bringing our season to a roof raising conclusion, is Saint-Saëns' thrilling Organ Symphony. St. Cuthbert’s boasts a magnificent four-manual JW Walker organ which has the necessary power and range to counterbalance and even compete with the large orchestral forces in this epic work. We look forward greatly to welcoming you — either as a long standing loyal patron or as a new audience member — to join us in our exciting series of live performances!