Warkworth Town Hall
3pm Sunday 24 May 2026
Our first concert for 2026 opens with the 18-year-old George Bizet's overture to his opera 'Dr Miracle', which won him a prize in an opera competition organised by Offenbach. This success led to introductions to a circle of celebrated composers that included Offenbach and Rossini.
The programme features trombone soloist Luca Boyack performing 'Concertino for Trombone and Orchestra' by German composer Ferdinand David. The first movement is often used in trombone auditions, and the second movement which David also arranged for violin & piano was played at his own funeral.
The colourful baroque 'Grillen' Symphony by Telemann employs an exotic combination of solo instruments that elegantly evoke the summer sounds of crickets.
'Children's Day' by American composer Charles Ives evokes nostalgic scenes from the late nineteenth century outdoor religious revival meetings of his childhood, employing dances, folk songs, hymns, Civil War songs, and quotations from other composers' music.
Music by Gershwin, and Lysenko's 'Prayer for Ukraine' round out the programme, with Ives' 'The Circus Band' portraying a circus marching into town, bringing the concert to a bright conclusion.
Admission is free.
Soloist
Luca Boyack (trombone)
Programme
Bizet: 'Dr Miracle' Overture
David: Trombone Concertino
Telemann: 'Grillen' Symphony (The Cricket)
Ives: Symphony No. 3. (2) 'Children's Day'
Lysenko: Prayer for Ukraine
Gershwin: Prelude No. 2
Ives: The Circus Band
