The Enigma Orchestra's concert on Saturday was a huge success.

Celebrating Bristol-based composer John Pickard’s 50th and Benjamin Britten’s 100th birthdays, the Enigma Orchestra returned to St George’s with a thrilling programme of musical masterpieces inspired by the sea.

Top of the bill was a performance of Sea-Change, written by Bristol-based celebrity composer, John Pickard, who worked closely with the musicians during rehearsals. This was performed alongside Britten’s dramatic Four Sea Interludes from the opera Peter Grimes and Debussy’s shimmering masterpiece La Mer.

Here are some quotes from a review by David Fay for Bachtrack.com:

“The players navigated the stormy seas breathtakingly”

“The orchestra excelled in this highly gripping, heart-racing music [Pickard's Sea-Change], succumbing to an inexorable slow march featuring snare drum and bass ostinati before rising again to a climactic unison ending.”

“...after braving the seas in an exciting and entirely pleasurable voyage, Weaver steered the Enigma ship safely into harbour.”

Read the full review here

Bristol Community FM's Billy Quain catches up with Enigma Orchestra's music director and conductor Robert Weaver ahead of their concert on Saturday 6 April at St George's Bristol.

Listen to the interview here

For tickets call 0845 40 24 001

We were delighted to welcome conductor and clarinettist Keith Slade who coached Enigma Orchestra's wind section in our Go-Pro session.

Composer John Pickard talks about his piece 'Sea-Change' ahead of the Enigma Orchestra's performance on 6 April 2013 at St George's Bristol.

Watch the interview here