Ely Sinfonia returns to Ely Cathedral on Saturday April 29 with a concert that celebrates the culture and landscapes of Europe with three of the greats in the classical music repertoire: Beethoven’s Coriolan overture, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no 6 (Pathetique) and Respighi’s The Birds. 

The group started out as a millennium project for Ely and is now well known for its high-quality performances and exciting, often innovative programmes.  It performs two or three major concerts in Ely Cathedral every year, as well as accompanying the cathedral choir for some services. 

This concert starts in ancient Rome, with Beethoven’s magnificent Coriolan Overture and the story of Roman leader Gaius Marcius Coriolanus, depicted by Shakespeare (and Beethoven) as a lone man bucking the system as he relinquishes his war-like tendencies in favour of greater tenderness before killing himself. This stormy, intriguing piece was composed in 1807, right at the heart of the classic period, and is full of all the drama of the story it illustrates. 

The concert then moves into the Italian countryside, where in 1928 Ottorino Respighi turned the song, fluttering wings and scratching feet of birds into orchestral music.  Based on music from the 17th and 18th-century, Respighi’s glorious piece brings out the unique sounds of the dove, the hen, the nightingale and the cuckoo. 

Finally we come to Tchaikovsky’s passionate and ever popular sixth symphony, Pathétique, which he conducted at its premiere just nine days before he died of cholera.  Despite its name, the symphony is full of excitement and energy, and was described by the composer many times as “the best thing I ever composed or shall compose”, although he never would reveal the story behind it. 

Tickets start at £10 and are available from the Ely Cathedral Box Office (call 01353 660349), by emailing box.office@elycathedral.org or online from https://www.elycathedral.org/events.  

To find out more about Ely Sinfonia, visit www.elysinfonia.co.uk. To ask about joining, call 01353 721007 or email publicity@elysinfonia.co.uk.