Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra 2025/26 Season : Concert Programme
Conductor : Stephen Belinfante
Leader : Sue Belinfante
Tickets available here
We warmly invite you to celebrate a remarkable milestone with us—130 years of music-making in Cheltenham. Founded in 1895, we are proud to be the town’s oldest amateur orchestra. Our new season offers an exciting series of concerts, featuring beloved classics, lesser-known gems, and even a world premiere. Whether you’re a long-standing supporter or new to classical music, you’ll find a warm welcome, a relaxed atmosphere, and unforgettable music.
Autumn : Light from Darkness
Marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz
Sunday 16 November 2025, 3pm
Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College
Solo violin – Diana Galvydyte
Korngold : Violin Concerto in D major
Zemlinsky : Symphony No 2
Daniel Belinfante : Awakening – A Pastorale – world premiere
Marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, this powerful concert presents music by composers deeply affected by the Second World War. We are honoured to present the world premiere of a rediscovered work by Daniel Belinfante, who perished in Auschwitz. This poignant piece was found in Amsterdam by our conductor Stephen, a relative of the composer. We also welcome back our esteemed President and violin soloist Diana Galvydyte for Korngold’s lush and romantic Violin Concerto. The afternoon concludes with the dramatic and stirring Symphony No. 2 by Zemlinsky.
Winter Concert : Vive la France
Sunday 25th January 2026, 3pm
Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College
Solo piano – Karl Lutchmayer
Ravel : Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
Saint-Saens : Symphony No 3 “Organ Symphony”
Debussy : Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune with solo flute – Bhavandeep Stephenson
Embark on a musical journey through France with a programme celebrating the country’s rich tradition of keyboard and orchestral music. Acclaimed pianist, educator, and writer Karl Lutchmayer joins us for Ravel’s dazzling Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. The concert also features the grandeur of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, performed on the magnificent organ of the Princess Hall, and the sensual beauty of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune.
Spring Concert : Folk, Rebellion & Romance
Sunday 26th April 2026, 3pm
Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College
Rachmaninov : Symphony No 2
Khachaturian : Masquerade Suite
Kodaly : Dances of Galanta
Rachmaninov: Vocalise with cello – Victoria Sinitsa
Our spring concert showcases Rachmaninov’s sweeping Symphony No. 2, a masterpiece of emotional depth and lush melody. We also perform a hauntingly beautiful arrangement of his Vocalise for cello and orchestra. The programme is rounded out with two high-energy works inspired by folk traditions: Kodály’s Dances of Galánta and Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite, whose waltz has been called “the loudest and longest waltz you’ve ever heard – a wild carousel of a mazurka, complete with raspberry-blowing trumpets!”
Summer Concert : Gala Concert – Carmina Burana
Sunday 28th June 2026, 3pm
Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College
The Cheltenham Philharmonic Chorus, Cantate Domino, Philomusica and Charlton Kings Choral Society
Carl Off : Carmina Burana
Bernstein : Songs from West Side Story
Marquez : Danzon No 2
We close the season with a spectacular finale: Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, featuring the iconic ‘O Fortuna’. This exhilarating work will be performed by the full orchestra, outstanding soloists, and the massed voices of Charlton Kings Choral Society, Cantate Domino, and Philomusica. The programme also includes highlights from West Side Story and the vibrant, Latin-infused Danzón No. 2 by Márquez – a favourite among our players. A triumphant end to a season of musical celebration!