past concerts
Chamber - Epiphany 2023
17th March | Castle Great Hall
Durham University Orchestral Society returned to Castle Great Hall with an exciting programme of 20th Century Music.
We opened with Arnold's light and delecate Seranade for Small Orchestra
This was followed by an orchestral rendition of Ravel's famour le Tombeau de Couperin
Following this was Roussel's Concert pour Petit Orchestre
The concert ended with a lively rendition of Ligeti's Concert Romanesc
SYMPHONy - Epiphany 2023
symphony
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SYMPHONy & chamber - michaelmas 2022
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9th March 2023 | Gala Theatre Durham
Durham University Orchestral Society debuted at Durham's state of the art Gala Theatre for a breathtaking concert in collaboration with Durham University Physics Department
We opened with Strauss's famous Also Sprach Zarathustra
Following this, we welcomed the brilliant Ollie Dewar for a stunning and emotional rendition of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2
Finally DUOS symphony took to the stage to play Holst's The Planets. Featuring talks by Durham Physics Department, as well as projections, this was not a concert to be missed!
3rd December 2022 | Elvet Methodist Church, Durham
Durham University Orchestral Society returned to Elvet Methodist Church for our annual Michaelmas term concert, this time featuring both our chamber and symphony orchestras.
We began with Debussy's magnus opus: Prelude à l'Après-Midi d'un Faune, followed by Bax's playful Dance in the Sunlight.
Following this, we welcomed the brilliant Penny Cairney-Leeming to the stage, where she performed Ibert's Flute Concerto
Finally DUOS symphony took to the stage to play Rachmaninoff's final major work, his Symphonic Dances. The church was alive with the wonderful sounds of Rachmaninoff
SYMPHONy & chamber - EASTER 2022
Sunday 19th June | Sage, Gateshead
Durham University Orchestral Society returned to Sage, Gateshead for a concert featuring Zemlinsky's Sinfonietta, before journeyed to the studios of Hollywood in Korngold's Violin Concerto in D major (soloist Jamie Frost) and concluded with Shostakovich's exhilarating Symphony No.10.
This programme excited with the virtuosity of the Korngold concerto and the immense power of the Shostakovich, written in criticism of the oppression of the Stalinist regime. The power of an 80 strong symphony orchestra brought the concert hall to life and was definitely an event not to miss!
chamber - ePIPHANY 2022
Friday 18th March | St. Oswald's Church
'Mozart's Overture to The Marriage of Figaro got things off to a fizzing start, with light, agile playing and some really nice punchy accents.'
'The DUOS ensembles are on particularly fine form at the moment.'
'Trumpeters Clara Falkowska and Emily Vaughan-Williams simply shone, with sultry muted passages, jazzy inflections, and cleanly executed flutter-tonguing and trills.'
joint concert with durham university choral society - ePIPHANY 2022
Saturday 12th March | Durham Cathedral
'Durham University Choral and Orchestral Societies deliver a moving and powerfully sung programme, conducted by John Forsythe, MBE'
'Trombonist Chris Chung floated out a flawless legato in the 'Tuba Mirum' solo"
'Last night's performance by Durham University Choral Society and Durham University Orchestral Society of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Mozart's Requiem was very special, and I haven't quite got over its emotional impact.'
Symphony - EPIPHANY 2022
Saturday 5th March | Durham Cathedral
'In a confident, dramatic opening, DUOS brought out the restless roaring of the sea...a softer wind passage created a vivid and slightly sinister picture of moonlight on a calm sea.'
'Conductor Monty Milner held the orchestra tightly together through some really exciting, turbulent music.'
'DUOS have emerged from the difficulties of the last two years with such a fine ensemble, presenting a challenging programme with both poise and flair, as if they'd never been away.'
Chamber - michaelmas 2021
Tuesday 30th November | Mount Oswald Hub Hall
An evening that showcased the music of Ravel and Debussy, taking all on a journey across the channel to the streets of Paris, whilst transporting us to magical lands in Debussy's Petite Suite and Ravel's Ballet Ma Mere L'Oye.
A blend of jazz and impressionism was heard in Ravel's scintillating Piano Concerto in G major, with soloist Tony Wong.
Symphony - michaelmas 2021
Saturday 27th November | Elvet Methodist Church
For their first concert of the academic year, DUOS Symphony Orchestra explored the music of Russia & The Soviet Union, from the tragic beauty of Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony paired with the fire of Khachaturian's Spartacus Suite No. 2, and the heroism of Sibelius' Finlandia.
The concert also showcased the hidden gem that is Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto, with soloist Clara Falkowska, a concerto teeming with lyricism and vigour.
This concert was musical escapism at its finest.
Joint concert - eASTER 2021
Sunday 27th June 2021 | Sage, Gateshead
Durham University Orchestral Society performed with Chancellor Sir Thomas Allen, a world renowned operatic baritone.
The concert celebrated music at Durham University and featured great orchestral classics such as Stravinsky's Firebird 1919 Suite, Wagner's Prelude & Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde, and Beethoven's 8th Symphony.
The event also featured a world premiere performance of a student composition by Marcello Palazzo, commissioned for the Sir Thomas Allen, who performed as a narrator alongside the orchestra.
joint concert - epiphany 2020
Saturday 7th March 2020 | Elvet Methodist Church
'High praise must be given to Will Fox and the Chamber Orchestra, especially all the soloists, for their highly professional performances in both pieces.'
'The Orchestra dealt well with the gradual rhythmic disintegration of the material towards the latter half of the piece under the direction of Marcello Palazzo ... Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable performance.'
'The Orchestra should be congratulated for delivering such an exemplary concert, which was a touching tribute to the late Orlando Gonzales, father of a former DUOS member.'
chamber - michaelmas 2019
Friday 7th December 2019 | Castle Great Hall
'The Orchestra boasted a well-balanced and diverse programme executed to perfection.'
'Gabriel Francis-Dehqani was a joy to watch and listen to and the rest of the orchestra supported him beautifully, filling the space effectively even though there were so few of them.'
'All-in-all, this was a brilliant first concert by DUOS Chamber this year, and I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of their concerts this year!'
symphony | the brave and the bold - michaelmas 2019
Saturday 23rd November 2019 | Elvet Methodist Church
'Marcello Palazzo's conducting extracted beautiful musicality from the players.'
'Laura's virtuosity and character in bringing this fantastic piece to life rightly blew away the audience; an excellent rendition of a formidable concerto.'
'The debut performance of DUOS 2019-2020 has certainly been a success, with a brave and bold programme, fierce playing, and wonderful musicianship all round.'
joint concert | a symphonic journey - easter 2019
Saturday 22nd June 2019 | Durham Cathedral
'The Durham Cathedral acoustic works wonders with the Orchestra; a thoroughly strong performance from DUOS Chamber.'
'...The intensity from all was suitably bombastic and passionate...'
'Once again, DUOS Symphony demonstrates its passion and energy in bringing to life one of the true greats of the 20th Century symphonic repertoire, and one of Alex's favourite works, to conclude his four-year association with the society.'
Joint concert - epiphany 2019
Saturday 16th March 2019 | Elvet Methodist Church
'Durham University Orchestral Society pulled off a fantastically challenging concert last night; with the forces of the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras combined, the height of Durham's instrumental musicianship was certainly on show...'
'...Rapid string writing was played with impressive virtuosity...'
'...DUOS were on a very high form tonight...'