“Now, after a 20-month absence, the West Sussex Professional Orchestra is making a comeback with a special welcome concert on Sunday October 10 at Worthing’s Assembly Hall.

“The program has been carefully selected by Music Director John Gibbons to mark the occasion, starting with Beethoven’s Merry 4th Symphony, a brilliant work unfairly overshadowed by the 3rd and 5th, but sparkling with liveliness and positivity.

“Beethoven was influenced by Haydn’s later symphonies in the 4th Symphony, so it is fitting that the orchestra also performs Haydn’s extraordinary 64th Symphony, which is a really fitting statement for the return of the WSO.

“In the original parts, Haydn wrote ‘Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis. Quomodo? Fit semper tempore peior homo “-” Times change and we change with them. How? ‘Or’ What? The passing of time makes humanity worse. This fiery four-movement symphony contains a beautiful slow movement that plays with all our end-of-phase expectations.

“Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is rightly loved the world over for its poise, beautiful melodies and use in programs such as Radio 4’s Brain of Britain.

“Mozart’s wife, Constanze, was a cousin of Carl Maria von Weber, who composed the stunning Concertino in Eb for clarinet and orchestra.

“WSO’s solo clarinet Ian Scott takes center stage for this remarkable work. Ian is a very accomplished player who is also principal clarinet of the Royal Ballet and has made a number of acclaimed recordings of British clarinet concertos.

“Finally, the tiptoe style of Johann Strauss’s Neue Pizzicato Polka corresponds to the orchestra’s timid return to the joy of live orchestral music. “

Jennie added, “After careful consultation with orchestra members and the audience, it was decided to include socially remote headquarters for the concert.”

John Gibbons said: “While a lot of our audience seem very relaxed about social distancing and masks, others are understandably nervous about large gatherings of people. We have therefore arranged the seats so that those who want more distance in front and behind can sit in the back half of the stalls while others can sit in the front stalls and the balcony as usual. .

The concert starts at 2:45 p.m., tickets on wtam.uk or 01903 206206.