Richard Fairbank Memorial Concert 26

Our winter concert was in memory of a long-time Gorton Philharmonic clarinettist Richard Fairbank, and featured the orchestra’s Principal Clarinettist and friend of Richard’s, John Gibson, who performed Bassi’s Concert Fantasia on motives from ‘Rigoletto’ (composed by Verdi, who died 125 years ago).

The first half of the concert opened with the popular overture to Ethel Smyth’s opera The Wreckers and ended with a favourite work of Richard’s, Finlandia by Sibelius.  The evening then concluded with another favourite work of Richard’s, Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor – composed 120 years ago.