Orchestra of St Paul’s
Ben Palmer Musical Director
Sir Roger Norrington Patron
Alexandra Reid Leader
The Orchestra of St Paul's (OSP) is a dynamic and versatile chamber orchestra resident at the famous Actors' Church in Covent Garden. In addition to a thriving concert series in its home venue, OSP makes annual visits to the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room and St John's, Smith Square, and is regularly invited to appear at venues and festivals throughout the UK. Under the baton of musical director Ben Palmer, the orchestra has developed a reputation for imaginative programming and exciting, stylish performances.
OSP is unique among modern instrument chamber orchestras in playing music of the baroque, classical and even romantic periods entirely without vibrato. This pure tone is complemented by the orchestra's employment of authentic articulation, phrasing and style.
Recent highlights include the Constant Lambert Piano Concerto with David Owen Norris (the opening concert of the 2011 English Music Festival), Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Roderick Williams and Beethoven's Ninth at St John's, Smith Square, a classical programme at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the UK première of the original version of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5. OSP's opera productions include Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Dido and Aeneas, Die Fledermaus and Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges.
The 2011/12 season includes a double-bill of Façade and Pierrot lunaire at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at Birmingham University, Copland's complete ballet score for Appalachian Spring at the Southbank Centre, performances of Messiah in Sturminster Newton and Stamford, Haydn's Nelson Mass at St John's, Smith Square and OSP's debut at LSO St Luke's, which will include acclaimed Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu performing Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Dinu Lipatti's Concertino in the Classical Style. Plans for 2013 include Haydn's The Creation at St John's, Smith Square and OSP's debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with a programme featuring Berlioz’s Messe solennelle and Symphonie fantastique.
The orchestra's patron is Sir Roger Norrington.
OSP is unique among modern instrument chamber orchestras in playing music of the baroque, classical and even romantic periods entirely without vibrato. This pure tone is complemented by the orchestra's employment of authentic articulation, phrasing and style.
Recent highlights include the Constant Lambert Piano Concerto with David Owen Norris (the opening concert of the 2011 English Music Festival), Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Roderick Williams and Beethoven's Ninth at St John's, Smith Square, a classical programme at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the UK première of the original version of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5. OSP's opera productions include Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Dido and Aeneas, Die Fledermaus and Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges.
The 2011/12 season includes a double-bill of Façade and Pierrot lunaire at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at Birmingham University, Copland's complete ballet score for Appalachian Spring at the Southbank Centre, performances of Messiah in Sturminster Newton and Stamford, Haydn's Nelson Mass at St John's, Smith Square and OSP's debut at LSO St Luke's, which will include acclaimed Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu performing Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Dinu Lipatti's Concertino in the Classical Style. Plans for 2013 include Haydn's The Creation at St John's, Smith Square and OSP's debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with a programme featuring Berlioz’s Messe solennelle and Symphonie fantastique.
The orchestra's patron is Sir Roger Norrington.
