My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

London Orchestra Will Re-Invent Mendelssohn, Berlioz, and Dukas In One-off Earl's Court Performance

By:

In a concert featuring some of the most programmatically rich orchestral music ever written, the Academy of St Mary-le-Bow returns to Earl's Court to perform a spellbinding programme, including Mendelssohn's incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Established in 2016, the Academy of St Mary-le-Bow has developed a reputation as one of London's leading amateur orchestras. The ensemble attracts the very best of the city's non-professional musicians, who are drawn to the Academy for its inventive approach to orchestral concert production, spearheaded by its Musical Director Alex Fryer. This event will be no exception: spectacular lighting will accompany mesmerising orchestral sounds to transport the audience to an enchanted forest, filled with magic, fairies, witches and sorcerers.

Mendelssohn's incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream will be brought to life by the mischievous sprite 'Puck' (played by actress Wallis Hamilton Felton), who will narrate the story using Shakespeare's text. A fairy chorus (from the Cantus Ensemble) and superb soprano soloists Eleanor Penfold and Annabel Kennedy join the orchestra in telling the magical tale.

Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is the centrepiece of the programme, telling the story of a young artist, who, enchanted by his love and under the influence of mild-altering drugs, dreams a gruesome tale where he is marched to the execution scaffold, condemned for the murder of his beloved, and sees her dancing with witches, shades and monsters at his funeral. Berlioz brings the story to life with other worldly orchestral colours, including tolling ceremonial bells and surround-sound orchestral effects.

Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice, famously featured in Disney's Fantasia, opens the evening's magical programme. Its infamous bassoon melody immediately conjures up the image of Mickey Mouse's unstoppable army of enchanted brooms!

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Costume Design - Top 3
1. Ryan Park - The Lost Boys
24.2% of votes
2. Qween Jean - CATS: The Jellicle Ball
15.4% of votes
3. Linda Cho - Schmigadoon!
13.4% of votes

Need more UK Regional Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


Jeff Innocent Live in Chelmsford – Stand-Up Comedy at The Lion Inn 16th July in UK Regional Jeff Innocent Live in Chelmsford – Stand-Up Comedy at The Lion Inn 16th July
The Lion Inn (7/16-7/16)
Funhouse Comedy Club - Comedy Night in Sheffield June 2026 in UK Regional Funhouse Comedy Club - Comedy Night in Sheffield June 2026
New Barrack Tavern (6/07-6/07)
Sounds of the 60s at Winchester Royal Theatre Sunday 11th April 2027 with The Zoots in UK Regional Sounds of the 60s at Winchester Royal Theatre Sunday 11th April 2027 with The Zoots
Theatre Royal Winchester (4/11-4/11)
BAEST downstairs at The Dome - London in UK Regional BAEST downstairs at The Dome - London
The Dome (10/09-10/09)
DRACONIAN at The Dome - London in UK Regional DRACONIAN at The Dome - London
The Dome (3/07-3/07)
STARBENDERS downstairs at The Dome - London in UK Regional STARBENDERS downstairs at The Dome - London
The Dome (6/12-6/12)
Count Arthur Strong - And it''s Goodnight from Me! in UK Regional Count Arthur Strong - And it''s Goodnight from Me!
Tyne Theatre (4/17-4/17)
Count Arthur Strong - And it''s Goodnight from Me! in UK Regional Count Arthur Strong - And it''s Goodnight from Me!
Bristol Beacon (3/19-3/19)
It Comes in Waves  in UK Regional It Comes in Waves
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds (6/30-6/30)
Beauty & The Beast in UK Regional Beauty & The Beast
Royal & Derngate (12/04-12/28)