“Where the Water Flows…” – A Season Opener to Remember

On Saturday 29 November 2025, join Sheffield Chamber Orchestra (SCO) in All Saints Church, Ecclesall for a special concert celebrating the themes of water, flowing motion and musical reflection — and marking the start of conductor Laurence Perkins’ second season as Artistic Director.

A Journey from Baroque to Today

This richly varied programme takes you on a journey through seven remarkable works, each connected by the ebb and flow of water. From Mendelssohn’s shimmering Die Schöne Melusine to Wagner’s intimate Siegfried Idyll, from Telemann’s grand Water Music to Ruth Gipps’ winds-only Seascape, the concert offers colour, mood and a sense of perpetual movement. Sheffield-born William Sterndale Bennett brings the local connection with The Naiades (named for Greek water-nymphs), and Johann Strauss II sends us off in style with his stylish and tempestuous Nordseebilder (“North Sea Pictures”).

A World Premiere at Its Heart

At the heart of the evening sits the world premiere of Sunset at Sea — a new work composed especially for SCO by celebrated composer Dominic McGonigal. Described as having “great textures, a perfect sense of spacing and pacing,” McGonigal’s music draws on a lifetime in the orchestral world — from playing tuba and cello to singing in the Chapel Choir of King’s College, Cambridge — and brings a fresh wave of imagination to Sheffield’s classical scene.In conversation with Laurence Perkins he describes the joy of writing for SCO: “The balance and clarity between strings, wind and brass… passing the material between different instruments… a wonderful sound-palette to work with.” With this clarity, Sunset at Sea conjures glints of light on water, the vast sweep of sunset skies and the layered motion of ocean tides.

Why This Concert Matters

This concert offers more than music: it’s an evening of narrative, sound and place. It invites audiences to reflect on the richness of the past, the artistry of the present and the creative spark of a new commission. Laurence Perkins’ imaginative programming and the orchestra’s commitment to quality give Sheffield audiences an experience of depth and elegance.Whether you’ve followed SCO for years or this is your first visit, this is a perfect moment to join. Immerse yourself in the shimmering sounds of water, the finesse of chamber orchestration and the excitement of a premiere.Tickets in advance for standard seating are £12 (Students/Under 18s £6).

Season sponsors are Agincare and Turner Violins.

Don’t miss out — book now and secure your seat for this extraordinary musical evening.We look forward to welcoming you on 29 November — let the music flow!