City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra
Autumn Concert
17th November at 3.00pm
Conductor: Bjorn Bantock
Soprano: Jane Route
Queen Katherine Academy
Carwithen - Suffolk Suite
Holst - The Perfect Fool
Mahler - Symphony No. 4
Next Concerts
​Spring 2025
16th March 3pm
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Summer 2025
28th June
Bjorn has an extensive performance schedule conducting ensembles and orchestras internationally. He is principal conductor of the Irish Memory Orchestra and has been a guest conductor for the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town, the European Bienniale in Naples and the Svanker Music Festival. Bjorn was also principal conductor for the St Albans Symphony Orchestra, the London Medical Orchestra, the Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, the Europa Ensemble and the Film Score Spectacular Orchestra and the International String Orchestra Festival in Malta.
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Passionate about teaching, Bjorn runs the Conducting Course for the National Schools Symphony Orchestra course in Malvern College and the Conducting Course for the Open Strings Festival in Denmark. He also founded and is principal conductor for the London Chamber Strings which showcases London’s finest string professionals. Hand-picked specifically for their musical integrity and stunning virtuosity the London Chamber Strings are led by David Juritz.
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Bjorn regularly conducts the Hertfordshire Philharmonia and worked as conductor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the London Contemporary Dance School and the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain. He has broadcast live on the SABC, BBC and S4C and has recorded and produced CD’s for the Kingsway Record label. Bjorn studied conducting with Colin Metters, Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has won numerous prizes, bursaries and scholarships including first prize in the Sir John Barbirolli competition, RNCM Contemporary Music Performance Prize
 and a Full International ABRSM Scholarship.
Jane Route
Jane has always been passionate about singing from her early days as a pop and jazz singer through to developing a love of opera and classical song after having her voice trained.
She has performed with a number of opera companies and societies including European Opera, Chester Operatic Society, Dee Major Opera, Civit Hills Opera and Peterborough Opera. Her roles have included Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Michaela (Carmen), Abigaille (Nabucco) and The Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), a performance attended by the opera’s composer.
She also regularly performs in concerts of opera excerpts and is looking forward to singing more of the classical song repertoire with Nene Voices.
Jane trained privately with Janet Barratt LRAM and has diplomas from Trinity College, London.
Programme Note
In Doreen Carwithen’s Suffolk Suite she presents an idealised vision of the rolling fields and wetlands of Suffolk. Her skilful orchestration captures the idyllic essence of the county with traditional dances and folk rhythms, the coast and the power of the sea and finally Framlingham Castle.
In Gustav Holst’s comic opera The Perfect Fool a pure-hearted innocent overcomes a wicked magician and resists the charms of a beautiful witch in order to win back a holy relic. The ballet music from the opera has found a firm place in the concert hall. This is one of Holst's most evocative pieces and shows his great skill in writing 'supernatural' music.
Of all Gustav Mahler’s symphonies the Fourth has become one of the most popular. No darkness and despair here, but rather sunshine, warmth and good humour. The almost child-like mood was so different from the previous grandiose symphonies 2 and 3 that it took many years until the work was fully appreciated and loved. The peaceful third movement forms a perfect prelude to the last movement where the solo soprano joins the orchestra in a simple child's idea of paradise.