The Helios Chamber Orchestra was co-founded by composer/conductor Owen Leech and oboist Barry Solomon in the early months of 2007.  Based in London, the orchestra has long-term commitments to imaginative and adventurous programming, the provision of orchestral and concerto experience for emerging young talents and the development of educational and outreach projects. Our new orchestra - in which some eighteen nations are represented - aims to make a distinctive contribution to the musical life of London (and indeed further afield), bringing the joy of live music-making to new audiences - and fresh, compelling and unfamiliar repertoire to more seasoned concert-goers.

STOP PRESS!! Next concert: 18th July 7.30pm

St. Cyprian’s Clarence Gate, Glentworth Street, London NW1 6AX (nearest tube: Baker Street) 

Wagner: Siegfried Idyll, Strauss: Horn Concerto no.1, Webern: Langsamer Satz, Haydn: Symphony no.104 'London' 

The bicentenary of Haydn's death is marked with a performance of his last, and arguably, greatest symphony - a miraculously engaging work, full of characteristic humour and drama.   

The other works in the programme belong very much to the great Austro-German tradition, of which Haydn can in many ways be considered the father.  Wagner is represented by the tender and intimate serenade which he wrote for his wife and new-born son, first performed on Christmas Day 1870.  Richard Strauss' father, Franz, was one of the great horn players of his time and played in the premieres of many of Wagner's operas (despite mutual enmity) - he was, therefore, practically born into the Wagnerian tradition. The first of his two horn concertos (here played by gifted young American horn-player, Meredith Moore), though an early work, is already marked by a typically 'Straussian' brilliance and panache.    

Anton Webern, as a pupil of Schoenberg, can also be said to belong to this musical lineage, and his beautiful early 'Langsamer Satz' still breathes the heady air of late German Romanticism. 

The following comments were received following our January 2008 concert, "American Originals":

• “Hail Helios! The orchestral sound is magnificent! And what an interesting programme! Congratulations all round.” (P.W.)
• “Thank you for a terrific evening on Saturday. [We] really enjoyed the quality of the performance -  and that of your guest violinist, Alicja was extraordinary. Great conductor and fabulous performances from all.” (R.A.)
• “Your concert was really excellent and the music was all very much to my taste" ... "the violinist was splendid!” (C.L.)
• “Many congratulations on [the American Originals] concert. We enjoyed it very much. Alicja is a very good soloist.” (A.W.)
• "I thought [Laura Isaacson,] the soloist [in the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto,] was quite wonderful. She played it with great lyricism and passion." (A.L.)
• Outstanding performance [at Mendelssohn/Mozart/Mahler concert] last night - you've put together a first-class team ... and I've rarely - if ever - heard a singer combine such exquisite technique and musicality with such powerful communication of the texts. Quite superb! (J.W.)