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City Hall to host sounds of the sea
City Hall to host sounds of the sea
02 November, 2015

The sounds of the oceans from four great composers will launch Hull Philharmonic Orchestra's new season.

Hull-born rising singing star Beth Mackay will be back home for the maritime-themed event at the City Hall on 28 November (7.30pm), entitled The Sea! The Sea! The former Hymers College pupil, a mezzo-soprano with Opera North, will perform five songs in Edward Elgar's Sea Pictures.

"The Elgar work is a magnificent piece of music, and having Beth with us will make it an even more special occasion," said Andrew Penny, Hull Philharmonic musical director. "It is always a pleasure to see talented local performers gaining the recognition they deserve.”

This will be the first concert in the Hull Philharmonic's partnership with Hull City Hall Classics as part of a nine-concert 2015-16 season with the Royal Philharmonic and three other visiting orchestras, which offers discounted tickets.

"It is good for us to stand alongside the professional orchestras as we continue to play a full part in the cultural scene of the city," said Mr Penny.

"There is no better place than Hull to stage a celebration of the sea and we have all the makings of an exceptional occasion.”

Special lighting effects and projected images will enhance the audience experience as the Hull Philharmonic, widely rated as one of the country's best amateur orchestras, plays three other works connected with the sea.

Lasting an intense 22 minutes, Claude Debussy's La Mer provides a richly descriptive soundscape of the great oceans and is regarded as one of the 20th century's most influential symphonic pieces.

It follows Frank Bridge's The Sea, which comprises four movements ranging from calm seas to storm and sunlight to moonlight.

For a stirring start, the Hull Philharmonic has chosen Wagner's The Flying Dutchman, inspired by the composer's voyage from Riga to London, reputedly to escape his creditors, when severe weather forced the ship to take shelter.

There will be a free pre-concert Meet the Artist event for ticket holders, starting at 6.30pm, in which Beth Mackay will discuss her early life in Hull and her subsequent career with Andrew Penny.

Concert tickets are available from the Hull City Hall box office and Tourist Information Centre, on hullphilharmonic.org or fromHull City Council (hullcc.gov.uk or 01482 300300). Prices range from £8 to £27. Discounts are available through the Hull City Hall Classics programme.