What’s On: The London Mozart Players, Croydon’s Fairfield Halls

The UK’s longest established chamber orchestra, will return home to Croydon’s Fairfield Halls as Resident Orchestra when it reopens in September 2019.

The new venue in the heart of the Croydon community closed for refurbishment in 2016 and the orchestra’s long-anticipated homecoming will be celebrated with a gala classical concert in the Phoenix Concert Hall on Wednesday September 18.

The concert, to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3, marks a significant moment in the 70th birthday of the orchestra.

Although the orchestra is usually self-directed, for this concert the players will welcome some special guest conductors who have been closely associated with the orchestra during its illustrious history: Hilary Davan Wetton, Jane Glover, Gerard Korsten, and Howard Shelley.

Neil Chandler, venue and artistic director at Fairfield Halls said: “I am proud to welcome back London Mozart Players as the resident orchestra of Fairfield Halls and I look forward to continuing this relationship into the future.

“Their September 18 Gala Concert will fittingly mark the reopening of our Phoenix Concert Hall, add another celebration into their 70th birthday year, and perfectly launch our new collaboration.”

The gala night marks the new season at Fairfield with concerts featuring music from across the classical spectrum and top-flight guest soloists including Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Craig Ogden and Jess Gillam.

Julia Desbruslais, executive director of London Mozart Players, said: “Fairfield Halls is a magnificent venue and we are delighted to be returning home.

The three years away during its refurbishment has been an extraordinary time of development for the orchestra, and has really connected us to this community.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Phoenix Concert Hall for a truly exciting programme of concerts.”

For more information and tickets visit http://www.fairfield.co.uk/