Experience the joy of live music at the opening concert of Tonbridge Philharmonic Society’s ‘75 plus 1’ season, conducted by new Music Director Naomi Butcher. Book your tickets here.

Saturday 20th November, 7.30pm

Chapel of St. Augustine, Tonbridge School 

PARRY: I WAS GLAD

VIVALDI: GLORIA

FANNY MENDELSSOHN: OVERTURE IN C MAJOR

FELIX MENDELSSOHN: SYMPHONY NO. 3 ‘THE SCOTTISH’

On Saturday 20th November Tonbridge Philharmonic Society returns to the splendid Chapel of St. Augustine at Tonbridge School to present a varied programme of joyful music celebrating the power of music to heal and unite. The choir and the orchestra will be conducted for the first time by exciting new Music Director, Naomi Butcher, in her Tonbridge debut.

Tonbridge Philharmonic Choir has not performed together since the memorable performance of Dvorák’s Stabat mater in November 2019. They are set to raise the roof of the chapel with its opening anthem, Parry’s I was Glad. Originally written for the coronation of Edward VII, it is a wonderful setting of Psalm 122, and has been popular fare for celebratory occasions ever since. “From the moment it begins, it is throbbing with energy, and the first choral cloudburst of the words ‘I was Glad’ still sends a tingle down the spine, even on the hundredth hearing.” Vivaldi’s Gloria is a contrasting, yet equally uplifting work. The distinctive melodies and rhythms are characteristic of Vivaldi’s music, and the opening chorus Gloria in excelsis Deo sets the jubilant tone.