Firmly established as ‘The International Orchestra of Elgar country’, the world-class English Symphony Orchestra (ESO), under their Conductor and Artistic Director Kenneth Woods, is an ensemble which in recent years has become synonymous with artistic excellence, innovative and visionary programming, distinctive commissioning and ground-breaking recordings.

With an international reputation, the Worcester-based ESO is working in partnership with Music at Cheltenham and supported by Arts Council England to bring a series of concerts to one of the UK’s leading cultural venues, Cheltenham Town Hall.

Highlights of the season include Richard Strauss’s ‘Four Last Songs’, with April Fredrick as soloist, and Mahler’s Symphony No.9 – both in chamber versions, and the strings of the ESO will be performing Schoenberg’s ‘Verklärte Nacht’.

Julian Bliss will be the soloist in Copland’s Clarinet Concerto and Zoë Beyers performs Elgar’s Violin Concerto, a work she describes as “a Symphony for Violin and Orchestra”, following her dazzling performance at the 2024 Elgar Festival in Worcester Cathedral. Beyers joins violist Kate Musker for Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante alongside Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 in a programme entitled ‘Spring Equinox’.

 Contemporary works include Philip Sawyers’ Symphony No. 6, entitled ‘A Pastoral’, written as a touching homage to Beethoven; Matthew Taylor’s Romance for Strings, and a World Premiere of David Matthews’ ‘Early Spring’; a piece dedicated to the ESO. All three composers have enjoyed creative working partnerships with the Orchestra over a number of years.

 Conducted by their Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Kenneth Woods, the ESO will be joined by British pianist Freddy Kempf for opening night on Friday 19 September at Cheltenham Town Hall, when they will perform two titans of the repertoire: Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 and Jean Sibelius' Symphony No 4.

 Kenneth Woods said: "These two iconic masterpieces were both written in response to moments of intense personal adversity. The Fourth Symphony reflects Sibelius's ultimately successful battle against cancer, while the Second Piano Concerto sees Rachmaninov regaining his confidence and inspiration following a period of profound creative crisis, resulting in what is quite possibly the most popular piece in the entire classical repertoire.”

 Piano soloist Freddy Kempf - who took up the piano at the age of four - first caught the attention of British concertgoers four years later when he performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall. In 1987, he won the first National Mozart Competition in England and in 1992 was named the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Described by Gramophone as 'a symphonic conductor of stature', Kenneth Woods, has built up an extensive and acclaimed body of work with the ensemble, which, as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, he has led since 2013. Each year, under his tenure, the ESO headlines an ambitious series of concerts across the Midlands’ region.

 The ESO is also well-known for its transformative youth programmes and service to the community including the delivery of live music to Care Homes - reaching those with dementia and other conditions who cannot attend public performances.

The ESO’s season in Malvern is to be announced shortly and full details of the Orchestra’s current schedule can be found at www.eso.co.uk or www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk