A railway rhapsody (From York Press)

Hall Of Harmonies, promoted by the University of York, at National Railway Museum

8:54am Thursday 25th February 2010 in News

STUDENTS created a serenade to steam as they tested the acoustics at York’s National Railway Museum (NRM).

The young musicians from the University of York are taking part in a Halls Of Harmonies concert on Saturday.

The exotic sounds of Europe and Asia will ring out from the galleries, emerge from the depths and swirl around the locos in the Great Hall of the NRM. Hall Of Harmonies, promoted by the University of York, features Javanese gamelan music, music for brass and singers performing a huge range of music, from sections of Monteverdi’s choral masterpiece, the Vespers of 1610, to popular Japanese melodies and new pieces written especially for the occasion. Celia Frisby, the university’s concerts administrator, said: “Performing among the trains provides fascinating musical opportunities and we can expect some real surprises and delights. As there will be no fixed seating, the audience will be able to walk around to experience the music from different points.”

Sue Dalton, cultural planning manager, from the NRM, said: “Theatre and the arts are being incorporated more and more into our future plans for the NRM, so we’re very excited to be hosting Hall of Harmonies.

“The NRM covers more than 300 years of railway history and its collections include more than 100 locomotives, some 250 items of rolling stock and thousands of other objects. I’m sure this will enhance the experience for the audience of this excellent production.”

The performance begins at 7pm and tickets (£10, concessions £8, students £3) are available from the university box office on 01904 432439, or at boxoffice@york.ac.uk and online at YorkConcerts.co.uk Under-16s are entitled to a free ticket when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.