Promenade Concert Orchestra - Your 100 Best Tunes

Morecambe’s unique Promenade Concert Orchestra is launching its 20th anniversary celebrations in style this November.

The UK’s only full-size palm court orchestra has been delighting audiences with its top-quality live performances for two decades, and on 22 November presents a homage to the BBC Home Service programme Your 100 Best Tunes.

Once again, The Platform will resound to a programme of popular melodic classical music, conducted by the orchestra’s founder, Howard Rogerson.

The scene will be set by the signature tune, Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), and will feature familiar music from Rossini, Elgar, Verdi and Schubert, among others.

Gilbert & Sullivan also play their part in the celebrations, with performances from HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Yeomen of the Guard.

Guest soloists

The Promenade Concert Orchestra features professional, semi-professional and excellent amateur musicians from the Lancaster, Morecambe and Kendal area, and often welcomes guest soloists.

For this concert, soprano Rowena Thompson and baritone John Tattersall join the musicians on The Platform stage.

During her career, Rowena’s performances have included opera, oratorio, Lieder and contemporary music, including premières of new works. Most recently, she played Gianetta in The Gondoliers at Halifax Playhouse.

John has also recently performed in The Gondoliers, as the Duke of Plaza-Toro, and has played roles in many Gilbert & Sullivan shows, gaining a reputation as a specialist comic baritone.

Celebrating 20 years

The Best One Hundred Tunes concert kicks off the 20th anniversary season for the Promenade Concert Orchestra, which has attracted more than 17,000 people since it was founded in 2007. It has since won awards and critical acclaim and has become a registered charity.

Its varied repertoire is inspired by the golden age of light orchestral entertainment, from Palm Court, ballroom and café music to tunes from shows, radio, television and film, alongside Viennese favourites and ballet music.

Howard Rogerson said:

“I have had a passion for the seaside spa orchestra and its music so on 'retiring' to a family home in Morecambe, what else could I do but establish such an orchestra in the town that never had one, other than the theatre and dance orchestras.

“Here we are, twenty years on and still going, bringing light music alive again. Come and hear your own orchestra in the equivalent spa building in Morecambe, The Platform!”

Coming up in 2027

There are three more concerts to look forward to:

• 24 January – New Year Viennese Concert

• 14 March – Music from the Palm Court

• 23 May – Popular Music from the Opera

All concerts start at 3pm and offer an entertaining and elegant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Tickets

Tickets for The Best One Hundred Tunes are £19, with accompanied children admitted free. Early bird discounts are also available.

There are no ticket fees when booking directly online through the Promenade Concert Orchestra website.

Alternatively, book through The Platform:

• Phone: 01524 582803

• Email: platformboxoffice@lancaster.gov.uk

• Online: The Platform website