Bardi Symphony Orchestra
“An Orchestra that compares with the best in the capital, on our doorstep in Leicester!”
Formed in 1986, the Bardi Symphony Orchestra is now in its 38th season. Originally conceived as a chamber orchestra by founder Dr Andrew Constantine, the first concerts were given in the University of Leicester.
The name Bardi derives from the Italian Count Giovanni de’Bardi who was associated with new ideas and approaches to the performance of music in the 16th century, an inspiration key to forming the Orchestra. Within just a year the Orchestra had expanded in size to form a full symphony orchestra performing in St James the Greater Church, and just four years later saw an orchestra of 132 players performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 in De Montfort Hall, Leicester.
Andrew Constantine remained with the Bardi until 2008 after 22 years as Music Director establishing the Orchestra as an instrumental force for classical music in Leicester and the region. He was succeeded by Danish-born Claus Efland who continued to develop the Orchestra across his 16-years at the podium, ‘achieving levels of performance rare in an ensemble of this kind’. Following his departure in May 2024, and on returning to a four-concert season at De Montfort Hall, the Orchestra have embarked on a new season format in 2024/25 entitled ‘New Horizons’ featuring a different high-profile conductor for each concert.
The players in the Orchestra come from an intriguing range of backgrounds. Having studied music to the highest levels many have chosen to pursue careers outside music but relish the opportunity to come together and play at a professional level. Their commitment and achievement have drawn soloists of the highest calibre to perform with them. In recent years the Orchestra has welcomed, amongst others, Natalia Lomeiko, Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Katya Apekisheva, Natalie Clein, Tasmin Little, Chloë Hanslip, Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Nikolai Demidenko. The 2024-25 season again features star soloists Isata Kanneh Mason, Tom Poster, Lydia Shelley and Fenella Humphreys.
In addition to a range of instrumentalist soloists, the Orchestra has worked with a number of choruses over the 38 years of its history including Leicester Philharmonic Choir, Leicester Bach Choir, London Philharmonic Choir, Leicestershire Chorale and the Choristers of Leicester Cathedral.
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