Step into a world Lullabies and Legends with town orchestra
Childhood, folklore and imagination inspire the music to be performed by Market Harborough Orchestra this weekend.
Title Lullabies and Legends, the concert includes works by Humperdinck, Ravel, Grainger and Prokofiev, and will be conducted by Stephen Bell.
Orchestra librarian Frank Jordan said: “This programme gathers four composers who each explore the worlds of childhood, folklore and imagination, but from very different angles.
"Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel Prelude opens the evening like the first page of a fairytale. It glows with warmth yet has shadows around the edges, hinting at danger and comfort sitting side by side.
"Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite moves us into a gentler dream. These musical miniatures, first written for children, feel like pastel bedtime scenes filled with tiny adventures and soft enchantment.
"Grainger’s Children’s March changes the mood completely. It bursts outdoors with a lively, foot-tapping energy that feels like joining a playful parade racing over the hills.
"Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7 closes the evening with a more reflective look at youth. Written near the end of his life, the music reaches back toward childhood with warmth, fun, nostalgia and moments of quiet radiance.
"Together, the pieces move from fairytale beginnings to open-air adventure, then into memory, offering a musical journey through the worlds we imagine when we’re young and the echoes those worlds leave behind."
Founded in 2012, the vibrant community orchestra is dedicated to bringing exceptional orchestral music to the heart of Market Harborough. Comprising musicians from diverse backgrounds, the orchestra performs three concerts annually, showcasing a broad range of classical repertoire.
The concert takes place Market Harborough Methodist Church in Northampton Road on Saturday February 7, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12, with free admission for accompanied children, although a child ticket is required. Visit mhorchestra.com to book.