Frome Festival Concert 2026

Dukas –  The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Schumann Piano concerto – performed by Ezra Herring

Stravinsky – Petrushka

This concert wraps up a fantastic season for Frome Symphony and concludes  another incredible Frome Festival. 

Paul Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is one of the most vividly imaginative works of the late Romantic era. Inspired by Goethe’s famous ballad, the piece tells the mischievous tale of a young apprentice who brings a broom to life through magic—only to lose control of his creation. Dukas captures the drama with sparkling orchestration, weaving humour, tension, and grandeur into music that has become instantly recognisable, especially since its use in Disney’s Fantasia. It’s a colourful and playful opener, setting the stage for the evening.

Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor is a deeply lyrical work, blending poetry and passion in equal measure. Written for his wife, Clara, who premiered it, the concerto has long been cherished for its seamless dialogue between piano and orchestra. Rather than focusing on dazzling virtuosity alone, Schumann creates an intimate and heartfelt conversation, with moments of fiery energy balanced by passages of great tenderness. Tonight’s performance features young pianist Ezra Herring, whose interpretation promises both power and sensitivity.

The concert closes with Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka, a dazzling ballet score that revolutionised early 20th-century music. Premiered in 1911 by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, it tells the bittersweet story of Petrushka, the tragic puppet who comes to life. Stravinsky’s music brims with rhythmic vitality, bold harmonies, and colourful orchestration that evoke the bustling Shrovetide Fair, the puppet theatre, and Petrushka’s inner anguish. It is a work of electrifying contrasts, combining wit, raw energy, and poignancy, leaving audiences both exhilarated and moved.

TICKETS – We have a limited number of tickets for sale via our website and tickets can also be purchased through the Cheese & Grain website.

Our tickets can be printed at home or just turn up with the email ticket with the QR code. Ticket sales via this website close 4 hours before the concert.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH TICKETS PLEASE EMAIL TICKETS@FROMESYMPHONY.ORG.UK