Starting off on a high note!
Published: 21 May 2025
Many thanks to Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra for their invitation to our first Mayoral event of the year – their May concert at Pamoja Hall, Sevenoaks School. It was a packed event – with almost every seat sold.
Sunday marked the orchestra’s 80th Birthday performance. It was set up just four days after VE day in 1945 and gave its first recital on 12th May. It has performed 300 concerts since then, only pausing for Covid lockdown.
This was my favourite performance by SSO since we came to Sevenoaks. It started with Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture, which describes the progress of the Aegean sun from dawn to sunset. It was spectacularly well played – especially by the horns and trumpets.
Next came Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with a powerful and dazzling performance by young Cypriot soloist Christos Fountos. Christos has played with SSO before, and in this event both were excellent.
For the second half, we heard two Sibelius pieces – Valse Triste and Symphony No 5. As a Sibelius fan, I was in my element!
We are lucky to have such a great orchestra in Sevenoaks playing to such a high standard. Congratulations to conductor Darrell Davison and to all the volunteer organisers.
Look out for the next orchestral treat at the Stag on 28th June as part of Sevenoaks Summer Festival.
Tony Clayton
Sevenoaks Town Mayor
