LA Folia is the new name embracing the group of professional musicians formerly known as Sarum Orchestra.
Sarum Orchestra has been performing classical concerts for nearly 25 years and will continue to do so under its new name.
But as artistic director Howard Moody explains: “We have become more than an orchestra and the name no longer reflected the full range and diversity of what we do and who we are.”
La Folia translates from the Portuguese as ‘madness’ or ‘wild amusement’ and Howard felt that the name would enable the orchestra “to be open to ideas around interpretation”.
The orchestra’s reinvention means that the dynamic group of musicians, dancers, actors and visual artists who work under the directorship of Howard have greater flexibility.
For several years now, Howard and his team have been sharing music with children at Exeter House School and The Valley Unit at Woodford Valley School and this is set to continue with his current four-year project devising a new music theatre version of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Other projects include a nine-month community project with children in the Old Sarum area.
As an orchestra, La Folia is involved with a big commissioned work in London with a group of musician asylum seekers, culminating in a concert in St Martin in the Fields.
During the weekend of July 9 to 11, Howard and musicians from the orchestra will be running their third composer weekend at Salisbury Arts Centre, culminating in a concert at 4pm on the Sunday, when composers can showcase their work.
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