Two substantial pieces make up tonight’s programme. Three singers join the orchestra as we perform the whole of Stravinsky’s seminal ballet, more familiar in its shorter version. Commissioned by Diaghilev, the piece is based on 18th-century Italian music, which is then ‘recomposed’ by Stravinsky into an exhilarating score, which signalled a radical change of direction for the composer. Beethoven's 5th Symphony remains one of the great masterpieces of the repertoire, from the turbulence of the the opening movement to the blazing apotheosis of the finale.

2012 sees the 80th birthday of distinguished British composer Hugh Wood – we mark this event with his recent work for string orchestra, a lyrical and enjoyable Divertimento; the lyrical vein continues with the Slavonic melodies of Dvořák’s beautiful concerto. Schumann wrote that his second symphony reminded him ‘of dark days’ – this is certainly a deeply personal piece, with a radical structure, and music of great spirit and joy.

We present several miniatures in this, Salisbury Sinfonia’s 20th anniversary concert. Roussel’s ballet translates as ‘The Spider's Feast’; all the dancers played insects and the score has a very French charm and delicacy to match. Wolf's exquisite Serenade can be seen as an instrumental conversation between an amorous man and a mocking woman. Strauss had a life-long love of the horn, and his concerto presents it in its various aspects – lyricism, heroism and hunting. We end by dipping into the wonderful treasure-chest of Haydn's Symphonies.