FANTASIA ORCHESTRA LAUNCHES RESIDENCY AT SMITH SQUARE HALL WITH LUCY CROWE OBE
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SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER 7PM
THE BIRDSONG-INSPIRED PROGRAMME WILL ALSO SEE THE ORCHESTRA MAKING THEIR DEBUT AT THE VENUE
Fantasia Orchestra, the dynamic and versatile ensemble of some of the UK’s most promising musicians, will make its debut performance at Smith Square Hall on Sunday 23 November with Birdsong, a specially-curated programme inspired by the beauty of nature and of avian song. The landmark concert also marks the beginning of a four-performance residency at the historic 18th century Westminster venue.
Renowned soprano and close friend of the orchestra Lucy Crowe OBE joins Fantasia under the stewardship of conductor and founder Tom Fetherstonhaugh. Together they trace birdsong in music across the ages – from Handel’s doves and Haydn’s hen to the kaleidoscopic colours of Messiaen, Berg’s exquisite The Nightingale and the jazz-infused lyricism of Gershwin. Sherwin’s timeless A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Kosma’s evocative Autumn Leaves add to a programme that soars through centuries of repertoire, blending elegance, modernism, and jazz-tinged warmth.
This concert promises to be a celebration of voice, nature and musical storytelling, and an opportunity to hear one of the UK’s finest sopranos in a performance that takes flight in every sense and sees her collaborating with one of the country’s most genre-defying orchestras.
The full programme includes:
Vivaldi Spring from Four Seasons: Allegro
Handel As When the Dove Laments Her Love
Price Little Pastorale
Trad. She’s Like the Swallow
Mozart Dove Sono from The Marriage of Figaro
Blasio Kavuma I am the sea (London premiere)
Messiaen The Lovebird of the Star from Harawi
Strauss Spring from Four Last Songs
Interval
Haydn Symphony no. 83 'The Hen'
Berg The Nightingale from Seven Early Songs
Sherwin A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
Gershwin Little Jazz Bird
Kosma Autumn Leaves
Arrangements by Harry Baker and James Ledger.
Over the past decade, Fantasia has developed a reputation for its imaginative programming, collaborative spirit, and top-level players drawn from across the UK. The new season takes that ethos even further.
Tom Fetherstonhaugh, Artistic Director, said: “Launching our residency at Smith Square Hall with Lucy Crowe OBE feels incredibly special. Her versatility and expressive power perfectly capture what Fantasia Orchestra is about; bringing together music from different periods and styles in a spirit of collaboration, joy and imagination. Birds and their song have always inspired composers, and this programme is our chance to let that inspiration take flight.”
Michael Garvey, Executive Director, added: “Fantasia Orchestra’s Smith Square Hall residency is all about concerts that surprise and connect with a wide range of people. Each programme is completely unique, built around the personalities of our soloists and the diverse breadth of music they love. With Lucy Crowe at the centre of this opening night on 23 November, audiences can expect a dazzling evening of artistry and discovery.”
The first of the orchestra’s Smith Square Hall concerts launches their 2025–26 season – a year that marks the beginning of a bold new artistic chapter. The season features new creative partnerships, genre-crossing repertoire and high-profile collaborations.
Fantasia made their acclaimed debut at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall last year, alongside soloists and longstanding friends Sheku and Braimah Kanneh-Mason and Plínio Fernandes and this won them a host of new admirers as they brought their trademark energy and vibrancy to the famous festival. Their repertoire included music by musicians as diverse as Bartók, Brahms, Dvorak, Laura Mvula, Piazzolla, and Nile Rodgers and Chic.
Under the direction of conductor and founder Tom Fetherstonhaugh, the orchestra is now building on the success of the BBC Proms with a season featuring hand-curated programmes. Each concert is shaped by Tom’s personal musical connections, friendships, and artistic vision.
Fantasia Orchestra’s full season details, including tickets and project announcements, will be shared at fantasiaorchestra.com and on social media @fantasiaorchestra.
FANTASIA ORCHESTRA LIVE PROGRAMME 2025 / 2026
23 November 2025 – Smith Square Hall, London (with Lucy Crowe OBE)
Vivaldi Spring from Four Seasons: Allegro
Handel As When the Dove Laments Her Love
Price Little Pastorale
Trad. She’s Like the Swallow
Mozart Dove Sono from The Marriage of Figaro
Blasio Kavuma I am the sea (London premiere)
Messiaen The Lovebird of the Star from Harawi
Strauss Spring from Four Last Songs
Interval
Haydn Symphony no. 83 'The Hen'
Berg The Nightingale from Seven Early Songs
Sherwin A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
Gershwin Little Jazz Bird
Kosma Autumn Leaves
Lucy Crowe OBE soprano | Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor
Arrangements by Harry Baker and James Ledger.
16 February 2026 – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham (with Jess Gillam MBE)
JS Bach Prelude from Partita no. 3 in E major
CPE Bach Allegro Assai from Concerto in A minor
Bartók Dances from Transylvannia
MacMillan Saxophone Concerto
Kate Bush Jig of Life
Sidney Bechet Petite Fleur
Reich Electric Counterpoint (movt. III, Fast)
Gershwin Lullaby
Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now
Donald Grant Bha la eile ann
Trad. Swallowtail Jig
Harle RANT!
after Benny Goodman Sing, Sing, Sing
Jess Gillam saxophone | Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor
10 April 2026 – Smith Square Hall, London (with Jasdeep Singh Degun)
Jasdeep Singh Degun In Search of Redemption
Terry Riley In C
interval
Jean-Philippe Rameau Thunderstorm (from Platée)
Jasdeep Singh Degun Rageshri
Jean-Philippe Rameau Tristes Apprêts (from Castor et Pollux)
Philip Glass Echorus
Jasdeep Singh Degun Arya (Sitar Concerto): movement II
Jasdeep Singh Degun sitar | Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor
29 May 2026 – Smith Square Hall, London (with Steven Osborne)
Bartók Divertimento
Shostakovich Jazz Suite no. 2: Waltz 2
Porter I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Gershwin I Loves You Porgy
Gershwin But Not For Me
Rodgers and Hart My Funny Valentine
Shostakovich Jazz Suite no. 2: Lyric Waltz
Shostakovich Piano Concerto no. 1
Steven Osborne piano | Aaron Akugbo trumpet | Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor
3 July 2026 – Smith Square Hall, London (with Niamh O’Sullivan)
Ellington Take the “A” Train
Kern The Way You Look Tonight (Swing Time)
Kern Can’t help lovin dat man (show boat)
Strauss Serenade op.7
Alma Mahler Mild Summer Night (Five Songs 1910)
Alma Mahler Harvest Song (Four Songs 1915)
Gustav Mahler Adagietto (Symphony no. 5)
Elgar Chanson de Nuit
Strauss Die Nacht (op. 10 songs)
Elgar Chanson de Matin
Strauss Morgen (Four Songs op. 27 no. 4)
Sondheim Send in the Clowns (A Little Night Music)
Porter I Get A Kick Out of You
Gershwin Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off (Shall We Dance)
Encore:
Gershwin Summertime (Porgy and Bess)
Niamh O’Sullivan mezzo-soprano | Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor
ABOUT FANTASIA ORCHESTRA
Fantasia Orchestra has a reputation for pioneering cross-genre programming and collaborations with musical stars. Founded by conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh, the orchestra is home to some of the best of young British classical music talent today.
In the 2025-26 season, Fantasia performs a wide range of music from Alma Mahler and Shostakovich to Joni Mitchell and Benny Goodman, and is joined by Lucy Crowe (soprano), Jess Gillam (saxophone), Jasdeep Singh Degun (sitar), Steven Osborne (piano), Aaron Akugbo (trumpet), and Niamh O'Sullivan (mezzo-soprano).
The orchestra made its BBC Proms debut in 2024, performing two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall with broadcasts on BBC television and radio. Repertoire ranged from Bartók, Brahms and Dvořák to Laura Mvula, Piazzolla and Chic, and long-time friends and collaborators Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), Braimah Kanneh-Mason (violin) and Plínio Fernandes (guitar) shared the stage as soloists.
Other recent projects have featured Dame Evelyn Glennie (percussion), Ben Goldscheider (horn), Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano), Jennifer Pike (violin), and Toby Spence (tenor), at festivals including Ryedale Festival, Newbury Spring Festival, Deal Music and Arts Festival, and Proms at St Jude's.
Broadening the reach and accessibility of music is central to Fantasia's mission, and the orchestra enjoys a partnership with the music education charity DaCapo Music Foundation. As DaCapo’s orchestra-in-residence, Fantasia works closely with students from across London and beyond on a range of initiatives, including a new resource for the primary classroom, DaCapo Online.
