Bournemouth Sinfonietta


The Bournemouth Sinfonietta was a chamber orchestra founded in 1968 as an offshoot of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. It was disbanded in November 1999 after increasing difficulties in obtaining funding from local councils led to the decision to concentrate government funding on its larger parent.

Formation

The orchestra was initially conducted by George Hurst, who acted as artistic adviser, and Nicholas Braithwaite, to perform the classical repertoire in the smaller venues of the south and west of England. In the first months of its existence, players interchanged between the Symphony Orchestra and the Sinfonietta, with some having to consult a chart to find out which orchestra they would play with the following week. The 'pool of players' idea was scrapped and the Sinfonietta became independent of the BSO, with more players moving across from the BSO in 1969.

Concert repertoire

The Sinfonietta made its London debut on 9 January 1969 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in a concert of Seiber, Milhaud, Webern and Varèse conducted by Edgar Cosma.
Among the premières given by the orchestra were:
1997
  • Concerto for String Orchestra by Rutland Boughton
  • The song should never be silent, Side by side, The sleep of reason by Colin Riley
1994
  • Concerto Antico for guitar and orchestra by Richard Harvey
  • Concerto for hurdy-gurdy and percussion by Howard Skempton
    • 1993
  • So in Darkness by Sadie Harrison
    • 1992
  • The Song of the Tortoise, a cautionary tale for narrator, voices and orchestra by Giles Swayne
    • 1991
  • The Green Ray by Gavin Bryars
  • Percussion Concerto by Dominic Muldowney
  • Where The Bee Dances by Michael Nyman
  • Bean Rows and Blues Shots by Mike Westbrook
    • 1988
  • Cantiga by David Matthews
    • 1982
  • Shanai-Awaz by John Mayer
    • During its existence, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta gained a national reputation, appearing at The Proms in 1977, 1988 and 1992 and also undertook short overseas tours, including Germany in 1987; Italy and Turkey in 1992; Romania in 1994; Spain in 1995; Brazil in 1996; and France in 1997. Venues in the south and west of England varied from small church halls, often in places which would otherwise hear no live professional orchestral music, to larger concert halls. From 1974 until 1986, the Sinfonietta was the orchestra for Glyndebourne on Tour.
    The educational and outreach work of the Sinfonietta was recognised by a Prudential Award and a Sainsbury's "Arts for All" award. In Romania, in collaboration with the charity, ‘Musika in Romania’, the orchestra gave concerts, visited schools, an orphanage and an assessment centre for street children.

    Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir

    The Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir was founded in 1972 and continues to give concerts in Dorset and beyond. The Choir's director in 2008 was David Gostick, organist at Wimborne Minster.

    Principal conductors

    Recordings

    Among the many recordings made by the Orchestra, ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary, are:
    Recording venues included Southampton Guildhall, Christchurch Priory, Poole Arts Centre and the Bournemouth Winter Gardens.