Royal Northern Sinfonia players

woodwind & brass

Thursday 15th January 2026

7.30pm Morpeth Methodist Church

Programme (on occasion, the artists may make minor changes to the published programme)

Dvořák Slavonic Dances (selection)

Beethoven Wind Octet in E flat major Op. 103

Ruth Gipps Wind Octet Op. 65

Mozart Serenade in E-flat Major K.375

Now based at the purpose -built Glasshouse in Gateshead, the Royal Northern Sinfonia has been delighting North East audiences since 1958. As well as performing full orchestral works, the musicians also love to play chamber music and we can look forward to this concert featuring wood wind and brass.

The first half of the concert will centre around Beethoven's Octet written for professional musicians in the service of Beethoven's patron, the Archbishop-Elector of Bonn as well as featuring Dvořák's Slavonic Dances.

British composer, Ruth Gipps' wind octet will open the second half. Bassoonist Gipps was the first female composer to conduct at the Royal Festival Hall sustaining a long and successful musical career despite the barriers of the time. Her view on this was 'I know I am a real composer, perhaps they will only realise it when I am dead!” The programme will conclude on a classical note with Mozart's Serenade in D flat major.

'As a chamber orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia has fewer musicians than a symphony orchestra, allowing a lightness of touch that big orchestras can’t always achieve – yet in the parts of a score when a rich, full sound is required, it always delivers.'

The QT, Ruth Robson 2024