Feedback and Memories

Become part of our online community through sharing your CBSO feedback and memories with us. We welcome all contributions whether they be memories from over 50 years ago or from a concert you attended last week.

If you have any memories you would like to share with us, please contact information@cbso.co.uk or why not join the conversation on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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"As I had not heard Cedric Tiberghien before, and therefore didn't know what to expect, I was not disappointed by the change of artist. In fact, Kirill Gerstein played the Brahms beautifully and sensitively, and the whole concert was - as ever - pure bliss!”
Viviana Weckemann, following the concert on 11 April 2013

"On Thursday night we attended the CBSO with Simon Trpceski as soloist in Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1. The rapport between soloist and orchestra was simply amazing. You had to see the concert live to appreciate how Andris Nelsons and the soloist were enjoying every minute working together. Furthermore the orchestral support was superb. It was a concert to remember and yet again shows how fortunate we are to have Andris as our Music Director. It uplifted our spirits on a snowy and cold January day. A great way to spend a January evening.”
William Whiting, following the concert on 24 January 2013

"We are e-mailing you to let you know how much we enjoyed your concert at the Albert Hall last Tuesday evening. We particularly enjoyed your rendition of the Leningrad symphony which we have heard several times before, but have never heard it played so well and with such passion.

We have been going to the Proms since 1958 when we were both young teenagers and have never before felt we had to contact an orchestra to say how much we enjoyed their performance.."
Diane and Den Lystor, following the Proms 51 concert on 14 August 2012

“It was the most stunning performance and such a testimony to the power of live music”

”I just want to say a huge thank you for such a fabulous concert last night, the second half ranks for me as one of the best live performances I have ever attended. Well done you guys and your terrific conductor.”
Zelda Burrage, following the Proms 51 concert on 14 August 2012

"We should just like to say that the Prom performance of this symphony was wonderful - the music critic of the Guardian today seems to agree! Thanks to all concerned for a memorable experience. What a pity the BBC didn't record this for television transmission."
Mike and Andrea Cooper, following the Proms 51 concert on 14 August 2012

"I went to the War Requiem and sat bolt upright throughout the performance, electrified by the music and the occasion, even tho’ the acoustic is far from ideal. Thank you for making it such a memorable evening, connecting back for me to the opening of the Cathedral, to my father’s and mother-in-law’s Civil Defence role in the Blitz and to my father’s service in France in WW1. I think I sang almost every note and word (silently!). I drove back to Cardiff that evening as energised as if I had been performing."
Chris, Cardiff, following the concert on 30 May 2012

"We wanted you to know what a spectacular concert we enjoyed on Saturday evening at SH. It was only our second visit to SH as it is a fair trek from York but we were desperate to hear Vaughan Williams Symphony No 5 which was wonderful. However, the real surprise was hearing Britten’s Our Hunting Fathers which was fantastically exciting, real musical “theatre”. The orchestra and Lisa Milne were amazing. Many thanks to SH and CBSO and all involved."
Graham and Linda Webb, following the concert on 19 May 2012

"Sarah Longstaff and Team, thank you so much for organising yet another wonderful day of singing with Simon Halsey and the CBSO. All the lovely ladies around me in the Altos left last night saying 'see you next year' to each other - we do hope so!"
Mary Gibbons, following the Singalong concert on 29 April 2012

"The concert last night, The Dream of Gerontius, was absolutely stunning, the best that I have heard it."
Valerie Green, following the concert on 12 April 2012

"This afternoon I had the privilege of attending the above with my daughter, my five year old granddaughter and 15 months old grandson. It was totally brilliant. The best Family Concert I have been to. Catherine Arlidge was an excellent presenter. She had total empathy with the audience. I was looking after my grandson after the interval. He really enjoyed the first half but climbing stairs was his second half preference! I was told the second part of the concert was equally good. We are so lucky I feel, to be able to experience such a wonderful orchestra and to so enrich the life of the new generation . Thank you."
Anne Burchell, following the concert on 5 February 2012

"Just a quick note to say how superb the concert was last night. Having been a regular concert goer with the my father for the past 15 or so years, we have been privileged to hear some fantastic music conducted by a variety of composers. As dad was a classical musician himself, he does have a much deeper knowledge of the genre than myself, but we are both of the belief that Andris Nelsons is shaping the CBSO into possibly the best orchestra in the country, and will soon be pushing the great orchestras of Europe. There is clearly a unique and strong relationship developing between orchestra and conductor. Please pass on our praise to Mr Nelsons and the players. It does seem a pity that more of the concerts cannot be recorded, as perhaps there would be a market for the CD's with foreign visitors, and or regular concert goers, as souvenirs? I would imagine though that the cost would be prohibitive. Once again, well done CBSO and Andris Nelsons."
Nick Fowkes, following the concert 2 November 2011

"Thank you so much for the concert last night. I'm honestly never normally prone to writing such emails, but felt so overwhelmed that I had to write. It was one of the best concerts I had ever been to, so utterly beautiful and moving. I felt emotionally exhausted at the end, and even had to borrow a hanky off my friend, as I couldn't make it through the "Agnus Dei" without all my mascara running. It was almost "Wagnerian" in power and emotional intensity (and that's about as good as it can get for me really)...please pass on my thanks to all the fab members of the CBSO, and of course Mr Nelsons. I love them to bits. I go 20+ CBSO concerts a year at Symphony Hall, and last night was just fantastic..."
Jo Holding, following the concert on 22 September 2011 - Verdi's Requiem

"Fabulous concert on fri 22 jul on John Williams - loved the music - and the atmosphere of the concert hall - will return again soon I am sure Staff too were very helpful and smartly dressed Well done to all concerned!!!"
Stuart Marshall following the concert on 22 July 2011 - John Williams Blockbusters

"Congratulations on a wonderful concert experience last night at SH. The Ravel concerto was inspired and the 2nd. movement utterly ravishing and profoundly moving – what a find in the young pianist ! Every lady around me simply wanted to adopt him – and I think half the orchestral ladies also !! And the Organ Concerto uplifting in an altogether different way, with real passion and commitment that we’ve come to expect from the CBSO. The conductor again – a real find, and the players seemed genuinely to warm to him. It’s hard to find fresh superlatives for the CBSO nowadays – just two more Mahler’s to go this season, and then a wait to have our selection for 2011/12 confirmed which we have already submitted. In these straitened times, wonderful value and always something to inspire. Thanks to all "
Peter Lawley, following the concert on 5 May 2011

"The Concert last night 'Heroes' was truly great, the Beethoven was tremendous and such a great treat, we are in awe of the Conductor and the CBSO, Thank you."
Barbara Adams, following the concert on 19 February 2011

"Thank you to Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for a WONDERFUL concert in Theatre de Champs-Elysées in Paris on Jan 17! We were tourists and I am a horn player of Sweden and I and my husband both enjoyed the fantastic concert you gave with Beethoven Egmont, the cello concerto by Shostakovitz and Strauss Ein Heldenleben! What an orchestra, how impressive, what a fantastic solohorn player, the Queen of French horn! That was a concert we will never forget and your conductor was excellent! Best of congratulations and thanks for a marvellous concert!"
Eva and Stefan Aronson from Halmstad, Sweden, following concert in Theatre de Champs-Elysées in Paris on 17 January 2011

"I have just watched and heard the CBSO on BBC TV performing Dvorak’s No 9 Symphony from the New World and thoroughly enjoyed it! I have never heard the Orchestra before, but was very impressed. It was so good I even had tears in my eyes as it felt that the music touched my soul. Andris Nelsons is absolutely amazing!! His communication with the Orchestra was so precise and clear. My soul has been refreshed tonight. Thank you so much!"
Barry Stockwell, following the 29 July 2010 Prom concert.

“I was very surprised by how dramatic the concert was, the conductor Andris was fantastic and the pianist was outstanding. I had never seen a live orchestra before, there were five words that I said to my auntie when the concert ended ‘wow can I come again’”.
Demi Bayliss-Smith, Aged 13, following the concert on 28 July 2010.

"My husband and I attended the concert at Symphony Hall last night conducted by Andris Nelsons and I would like the CBSO to know how much we enjoyed it. We were in “the gods” but felt totally involved with the orchestra and the sound quality was amazing. Please pass on our congratulations to all who took part, not just the stupendous soloists, but to all members of the orchestra who played in such a mesmerizing way - something I have never heard before. Andris Nelsons’ conducting of the New World was spellbinding, confirmed by the audience holding their collective breaths for such a long time at the end of the Symphony before bursting into rapturous applause. An awesome evening. Congratulations and thank you."
Lynda Lewis, following 28 July 2010 concert.

"On Friday the 2nd. July, my wife and I visited your Friday Night Classics concert: Rodgers & Hammerstein shows wih John Wilson conducting your very own CBSO and I am writing to inform you, what an absolutely wonderful evening we had. The entertainment was superb. The mucis and musicians were wonderful and gave us an evening to remember - forever!!!!! Now we are anxiously waiting for John Wilson to return to Symphony Hall to give us another evening, similar to the one he played on television i.e. M.G.M. shows."
Audience member following 2 July 2010. Click here to view more Friday Night Classics concerts from the CBSO.

"Over the last forty or so years we have watched and listened to the CBSO grow and develop. It has been, and will continue to be, a huge privilege. Thank you all."
Thelma and Michael Brazier

"I've enjoyed some wonderful evenings over 50 years and particularly during the past 15 years in various parts of the world in some great opera houses watching and listening to Wagner's works. Lohengrin is a particular favourite [...] But never Mr Nelsons have I enjoyed or been so thrilled by this miraculous work as I was on Saturday evening. The orchestra and chorus played and sung as if their lives depended upon it, and were fronted by a fine cast of soloists."
Audience member following 12 June 2010 Lohengrin performance.

"All the children and staff from St Peter's had a fabulous time at the Symphony Hall! They loved singing with all the other children and were mesmerized by the Symphony Hall itself! The organisation of the day was excellent. It has been such an amazing experience for our children and has inspired many of them to audition [for the CBSO Children's Chorus]...As well as inspiring us all at St Peter's to keep singing! I am so pleased that we joined the project. The children have loved working with David [Lawrence] and all the staff have gained confidence and skills to continue singing in school."
A teacher from St Peter's RC School, following the SingUp performance on 17 May. 2010

"Dear CBSO, I am writing to thank you for the amazing concert. My favourite part was when the four trumpeters took their jackets off and revealed their superman suits. I thought the best piece of music was the sorcerer's apprentice because it had a good story to it. Right now I am learning piano, but I would like to learn the trumpet and the violin. It was my first time i've been to Symphony Hall and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you again."
Audience member aged 8, following 16 May 2010 Family concert.

Audio Clip  An audio contribution from CBSO concert-goer Anne O'Leary (pictured below).
Anne O'LearyAnne O'Leary was invited to see Puccini's La Bohème at Symphony Hall in November when a colleague organised a ticket. She had never been to a CBSO concert before and was a bit nervous about going on her own. Anne came to the concert through a colleague who is a CBSO Ambassador - where concert goers introduce new people to the CBSO.
Find out more about becoming an Ambassador for CBSO Concerts.

Bill HalesBill Hales is a Patron and this season celebrates 60 years as a subscriber.
"It's been a thrill to see the Orchestra develop since those early days and they really are one of the tops now. None of the others compare - this is my Orchestra. In fact, nothing stops me coming to a concert. When my wife Rita was heavily pregnant, she started having pains on a Thursday afternoon. I cleared off to my concert - I can still remember the music - Richard Strauss' Don Quixote and Schubert's Ninth Symphony. Some other subscribers who sat next to me at the time couldn't believe it when I told them and said ‘what are you doing here? You should be at home looking after your wife.' To be fair, when I got home she was alright really. And our second son was born at eight o'clock the next morning. I must admit, we laugh about it now but I felt terribly guilty at the time."