Page 477 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

Dinis Sousa and Orquestra XXI (Photo Jorge Carmona)

When Dinis and I spoke, next season with RNS has not yet been announced, but recently the
orchestra's Autumn season was announced, see my article. Dinis also has Autumn events with
Orquestra XXI. During lockdown, last year, the group decided to go out of doors and gave a series of
concerts of 20th and 21st-century music in found spaces. These went so well, that they plan to
continue this strain of events into Autumn 2021. And as for guest work, Dinis' comment is 'who
knows' as it is too difficult to travel at the moment.

He feels himself lucky to be based in the North-East, not just because of Royal Northern Sinfonia, but
also because of Sage Gateshead. He refers to it as one of the best acoustics that there is, and for
Dinis, it is an amazing place to be in. A beautiful sound and a beautiful building, and it gives him and
the orchestra stability having their own place.

Dinis opens the Royal Northern Sinfonia's 2021/22 season at Sage Gateshead on 18
September 2021 with a new commission, a collaboration between composer and DJ Mira
Calix and filmmaker Sarah Turner to reflect local people’s experiences of the past 18 months,
plus Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, with soloist Anastasia Kobekina, and
Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. He returns on 22 October for Beethoven's Coriolan Overture,
Schumann's Piano Concerto, with soloist Elisabeth Leonskaja, and Mozart's Symphony No.
40. See the Sage Gateshead's website for further details.