Hull City Hall Classics series returns to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee and bid farewell to a Hull maestro

Anniversary celebrations and the career of one of Hull’s most accomplished conductors will be honoured during the triumphant return of the Hull City Hall Classics series.

The 2021/22 programme, in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and Hull Philharmonic Orchestra, includes nine concerts and welcomes some of the world’s finest conductors and musicians performing a selection of the greatest and best-loved classical works of all time.

These concerts are part of the RPO’s 75th Anniversary Season and also marks the farewell concert from renowned conductor Andrew Penny, who has made a huge contribution to orchestral music at Hull City Hall over the last 40 years.

In an exciting first for the series, the opening two performances of the season will be held at Hull New Theatre, while Hull City Hall completes its important role as a Covid-19 vaccination centre. 

The musical extravaganza starts with all the Pomp and Circumstance expected from a Last Night of the Proms concert with the RPO on 30 September. They will be followed by the Hallé Orchestra with soloist Chloë Hanslip providing the romance in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto on 28 October – both at Hull New Theatre.

From there the series fittingly returns to its natural Hull City Hall home with the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra playing the first programme of favourites, requested by the orchestra’s players and supporters, and includes another chance to hear the 2017 commission from Sir Karl Jenkins, 6000 Pipes on 27 November.

Andrew Penny’s final concert as Musical Director of the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra will take place on 14 May 2022 with music from Mozart, Elgar and Brahms – all chosen by the man himself.

Russian Masterpieces from the renowned Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow will be played by rising young star, Pyotr Akulov, while the RPO also bring Stravinsky, Beethoven and the genius of Mozart to life in this celebratory series of events.

The 2021/22 Hull City Hall Classics season is on sale now: www.hulltheatres.co.uk