Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 7 Roxanna Panufnik – Alma’s Songs Without Words Fulham Symphony Orchestra Marc Dooley conductor Tom Evans leader 21 June 2025 7.30pm, Smith Square Hall

Roxanna Panufnik – Alma’s Songs Without Words (London Premiere) Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 7 Fulham Symphony Orchestra Marc Dooley conductor Tom Evans leader 21 June 2025, 7.30pm Smith Square Hall London SW1P 3HF Tickets £14, concessions £12, under-16s £9. Booking fees apply. Book online: sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk Booking helpline: 02072221061 Gustav Mahler’s Seventh Symphony, sometimes called the Song of the Night, sweeps listeners through an emotional journey from dusk to dawn. The arresting introduction is followed by eerie ‘night music’ movements and a haunting waltz. Scored for a huge orchestra including mandolin, guitar and cowbells, the symphony is full of contrasts, combining romantic serenades, nocturnal marches and ironic humour. The life-affirming finale is crowned with boisterous timpani and blazing brass. Alma’s Songs Without Words by Roxanna Panufnik reimagines three songs by Alma Mahler, with different instruments or sections of the orchestra taking on the role of the human voice. Alma wrote the songs before her tempestuous and ultimately tragic marriage to Gustav Mahler, who initially made clear his view that there was room for only one composer in their relationship. Panufnik describes the songs as: “extraordinary in their intensity, passion and almost feverish swings in mood and tempo”. Illustration by Caroline Whitehead

We’re performing Mahler 7 and Roxanna Panufnik's "Alma’s Songs Without Words" at Smith Square Hall on 21 June. Book now at: fso.org.uk/summer-2025/

Tchaikovsky, Demessieux and Janáček – 22 March 2025 Leoš Janáček – Taras BulbaJeanne Demessieux – Poème Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Manfred Symphony

Tickets for tonight’s concert are currently sold out but we’re working with the venue to try to make some more seats available. See our website for the latest information: fso.org.uk/spring-2025/

Previously the Organ Scholar at the Southbank Centre, she is now Organist at St Nicholas’ Church in Harpenden. She is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and Co-Chair of the Society of Women Organists.

Concert info and tickets:
fso.org.uk/spring-2025

Hannah Gill

We’re delighted to have organ soloist Hannah Gill performing with us on 22 March at Smith Square Hall.

Born in Wales, Hannah was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and was a concerto finalist in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales....

Fulham Symphony Orchestra – 22 March 2025 - Leoš Janáček – Taras Bulba, Jeanne Demessieux – Poème, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Manfred Symphony. Marc Dooley conductor Tom Evans leader Hannah Gill organ. 22 March 2025 7.30pm, Smith Square Hall

A rare chance to hear Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony, his most ambitious symphonic work, which explores the extreme drama of Byron’s poem of the same name. Jeanne Demessieux was a celebrated virtuoso organist and a child prodigy. The exuberant Poème for organ and orchestra was one of her few orchestral compositions. Written during World War I and inspired by the story of a Cossack hero, Leoš Janáček’s Taras Bulba combines poignantly beautiful folk-like themes with the composer’s distinctive and unconventional orchestration. Born in Wales, Hannah Gill was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and was a concerto finalist in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales. She has conducted and accompanied prize-winning choirs at both National and International Eisteddfod competitions. Previously the Organ Scholar at the Southbank Centre, she is now Organist at St Nicholas’ Church in Harpenden. She is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and Co-Chair of the Society of Women Organists. Leoš Janáček – Taras Bulba Jeanne Demessieux – Poème Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Manfred Symphony Marc Dooley conductor Tom Evans leader Hannah Gill organ 7.30pm, Smith Square Hall, London SW1P 3HF Tickets £14, concessions £12, under-16s £9. Booking fees apply.

Book now for our concert on 22 March 2025 at Smith Square Hall.
fso.org.uk/spring-2025/

A rare chance to hear Tchaikovsky’s great Manfred Symphony, Jeanne Demessieux’s exuberant Poème for organ and orchestra, and Janáček’s Taras Bulba, an orchestral rhapsody inspired by a Cossack hero.

In due course we will find a way to honour Steve's huge contribution to the orchestra since 2001. Meanwhile we encourage donations to Cancer Research UK. donate.cancerresearchuk.org/donate

Steve Hicks

Steve Hicks

Steve Hicks

We have been devastated by the untimely death of our principal trumpet Steve Hicks. His glorious playing, enormous personality and total confidence inspired us all. We have not the words to describe our sense of loss, but all our love is with his wife Andrea and family.

@westlondonhistory.bsky.social @hfcouncil.bsky.social

9/ You can read more about our history on our website: fso.org.uk/history

8/ Siegfried de Chabot was the first in an illustrious line of conductors of our orchestra including Joseph Vandernoot, Andrea Quinn, Peter Stark, Roland Roberts, @levparikian.bsky.social and @marcdooley.bsky.social

Newspaper review

7/ We’re proud to say that the reviewer got his first wish, as 66 years later we're still going strong.

"Irene Kohler the celebrated pain-iste is coming"

6/ Really hoping this was a typo 😂

Newspaper cutting

5/ That review also tells us the Oscar-winning composer Malcolm Arnold was in the audience. He’d won his Academy Award just 8 months earlier for his soundtrack to "The Bridge on the River Kwai".

Newspaper cutting

4/ Apparently in those days the obstacles to assembling an orchestra included Diana Dors at the Gaumont and visits from mother-in-laws.

Newspaper cutting: "audience will include Mayors of Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith and Battersea"

3/ There were FIVE mayors at the concert! This was clearly a matter of civic pride, as back then we were funded by the borough council.

Newspaper cutting

2/ This ad reveals that our first conductor was Siegfried de Chabot, a professor at the Guildhall School of Music who gave conducting lessons to film composer Ron Goodwin (famous for 633 Squadron and Where Eagles Dare).

Newspaper cuttings

We’ve made a fascinating discovery in the archives: newspaper cuttings announcing our very first concert in 1958! We knew very little about our early years, so these have thrown up some surprises… 🧵

Smith Square Hall exterior

Orchestra concert in Smith Square Hall London

What a fantastic end to the term! 🎶

A huge thank you to everyone who came and filled Smith Square Hall. 🙏

For updates on our next concert and ticket releases, sign up to our mailing list here: fso.org.uk/mailing-list/

Orchestra rehearsal

Viola players

Concert flyer

Hello, BlueSky! 👋

We’re a big, ambitious amateur symphony orchestra based in west London.

Our last concert featured birdsong in Rautavaara’s ‘Cantus Arcticus’, Lutosławski’s dazzling Fourth Symphony, the folk-inspired ‘Suita Rustica’ by Kaprálová, and Martinů’s big-hearted Fourth Symphony.