CARDIFF Philharmonic Orchestra return to St David’s Hall, Cardiff, on Friday March 16 as Classics for All offers a breathtaking repertoire of Haydn, Vaughan Williams and Brahms. 

Two contrasting symphonies open and close this captivating concert, which is the third of CPO’s 2017/18 season. 

Haydn’s ‘Drum Roll’ Symphony is a work full of sparkle and zest, which provides the perfect opening piece. Incredibly, it was the iconic Austrian composer’s 103rd symphony!

Conversely, Brahms wrote just four of them and was 43 years old when his first symphony was premiered whereas Haydn had already composed well over 50 by the same age! 

Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 takes us on a journey in its four movements from despair and angst to joy and triumph, and contains in its final movement one of the most beautiful and best-loved tunes written by any composer.

Separating these two symphonies is Vaughan Williams’ sublime work for violin and orchestra, The Lark Ascending. Written in 1914 but put aside while Williams served in the First World War, it features a solo violin as the lark with the orchestra providing musical images of the rolling countryside. It is the work consistently voted the nation’s favourite classic.

Soloist for this piece is talented violinist, Sara Trickey who has previously performed with CPO at the National Concert Hall of Wales and on tour in France.

To book your seats for this event, please visit stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on 02920 878444.

The South Wales Argus has teamed up with St David’s Hall to offer a pair of tickets to the show. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question: How old was Brahms when his first symphony was premiered? 

Send your answer, name, address and contact details on a postcard to Cardiff Orchestra Competition, Samantha Newman, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 3QN or you can enter by text. Start your message with CONCERT, leave a space and then send your answer, name and address to 80360. Messages cost 50p plus your normal operator text charge. Service provided by Newsquest Media Group. Terms and Conditions at www.southwalesargus.co.uk/competitions.

Closing date: March 1, 2018.