G Live’s International Concert Season

Published on: 14 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 14 Oct, 2026

By Alice Fowler

Every autumn, the G Live stage turns shades of russet brown: not with falling leaves, but the mellow hues of violins and cellos, as the venue’s International Concert Season kicks off.

This week, music lovers were treated to a sumptuous performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the dynamic young Finnish conductor, Kristian Sallinen.

Young Finnish conductor Kristian Sallinen conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The RPO – which this year reaches a milestone 80 years since its first concert – sets the highest of standards. Its G Live programme ranged from Beethoven’s Egmont Overture to Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and, most impressively for this reviewer, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto: his instrumental swansong, completed two months before his death.

In this latter piece Katherine Lacy, the RPO’s principal clarinet for over a decade, took centre stage, her playing both physical and exquisitely expressive.

Guildford-based composer Will Todd spoke on behalf of the Cheryl King Trust, G Live’s charity partner for the season, which funds music lessons for young people from low income families in Surrey, including at Guildford Grove primary.

The RPO returns to G Live twice in 2027, with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 on February 13th and a programme of Tchaikovsky on May 25.

Other highlights of the season include the Flanders Symphony Orchestra performing Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending on November 4; and the Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven on March 4. For details, see www.glive.co.uk