The Haslemere Musical Society (HMS) kicks off its 101st season with a grand orchestral concert on Saturday, October 12, at St Christopher’s Church, Weyhill. The evening's repertoire promises a rich blend of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, and Lalo, with a highlight performance by the Italian violinist Molly Salvemini.

Salvemini, a rising star on the international stage, will be the soloist of the night. Fresh from performances at iconic venues like the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Berlin Philharmonie, she joins HMS during her brief scholarship visit to England. A winner of prestigious competitions in Moscow and Vienna, Salvemini will take on Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso – a piece originally intended as part of a violin concerto, but later adapted by the composer into a standalone showcase for its sheer popularity.

The concert opens with Mendelssohn’sThe Hebrides Overture, a work inspired by the composer's journey to Scotland's rugged west coast. Despite the initial melody coming to Mendelssohn during his visit, the piece took three years to complete. Though Mendelssohn titled it Die Hebriden, the printed score bore the name Fingal’s Cave – and both names have endured.

The centrepiece of the evening is Beethoven’s Second Symphony, composed during a tumultuous period as the composer grappled with his growing deafness. Known for its dramatic shifts and powerful sforzandi, the symphony was met with mixed reviews at its premiere. One critic famously described it as "doves and crocodiles locked up together," yet the symphony's inventive spirit and lively finale have cemented its place in the repertoire.

Rounding out the programme are two delicate Aubades by Lalo, extracted from his opera Fiesque.

Tickets are available from Haslemere Hall Box Office (tel. 01428 642161) or on the door at St Christopher’s Church. The concert begins at 7.30pm.