Please think carefully
about GPC fare
Sir, May I add some further comments
to the correspondence about the 1998/99
programme
for
the
Guildford
Philharmonic Orchestra?
There were two things that 1 was particularly looking forward to on my
retirement. One was to rejoin the
Guildford Philharmonic Choir (if I
could still meet the standards required),
the other to have a season ticket for the
philharmonic programme. It was therefore with great anticipation that I opened
the brochure for the new season. Imagine
my great disappointment when I found,
first that the choir was listed as having
only one concert and, likewise; that there
was only one full-scale orchestral concert
of any merit.
I now know that the choir is still functioning, and has an interesting programme for the season, but sadly has
been separated from the GPO programme as such. As I understand it, the
choir was specifically formed to work
with the orchestra and to give Guildford
singers the chance to perform with a
first-class orchestra. 1 hope that these
objectives will not be totally abandoned
by the borough.
With regard to the orchestra pro-
gramme, | would agree that changes and
economies were needed, together with a
refreshment of the programme format.
Some scaling down of the scope is probably unavoidable, but what we now have
is the virtual abandonment of any
attempt to provide a series of serious
orchestral concerts in the town.
:
Lynda
Strudwick
claims
that
Guildford is ... in the vanguard of the
new thinking on classical concerts ...” |
don’t think there is anything radical in
staging concerts of many short length
“pop” items, collated on the rather tired
themes of opera, dance, Viennaand fire-
works. In fact, they are often cbmme1~ i
.
cially promoted. They have their place,
but only alongside concertswith more
substantial fare. There must be a balance
between the “pop” concerts which
it is
expected will pull in large audiences, and
those that will enlarge our musical
appreciation. This season’s programme is
not so balanced. In my view, Guildford
now compares unfavourably with similar .
size towns, of comparative importance,
for provision of professional orchestral
concerts.
The letter from Guildford Symphony
Orchestra/Surrey Mozart players was
disturbingly complacent about this
major reduction in the GPO concerts.
However good we amateurs are, we
surely all need the inspiration of some
first-class professional performances.
This is important for the health of all
music-making in the town.
Please, Guildford council and the
musical management, think carefully
about the programme for next season.
We are justifiably proud of the theatrical
tradition of Guildford, and we used to
be proud of the professional music that
was provided. The programme does not
have to be as extravagant as in the past,
but it does have go to be more substantial and exciting than this year’s poor
offering. Give us something that we can
again enjoy and be proud of.
BOB BROMHAM
8 Pewley Bank, Guildford.