de Havilland Philharmonic

THE University of Hertfordshire’s resident orchestra, the de Havilland Philharmonic, returns this weekend for its first concert of 2012.

Richard Strauss’ Don Juan opens Sunday’s concert in the impressive Weston Auditorium on the university’s de Havilland Campus, in Hatfield.

The solo violin in this work depicts one of Strauss’ most infamous characters, the libertine Don Juan.

Brahms’ gloriously melodic Concerto for Violin and Cello follows, with the orchestra’s popular section principals –Richard Aylwin, first violin BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Graham Bradshaw, co-principal cellist, BBC Symphony Orchestra – undertaking the solo parts.

The concert ends with Shostakovich’s Symphony No.12, a work which holds buried resentment for the repressive Soviet system of the 1960s and earmarked Shostakovich as a musical martyr.

A pre-concert talk will take place at 6.45pm. Admission £2.50.

The concert itself starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced from £6 to £20, and can be purchased from UHArts by calling 01707 281127.