Saturday 23 May 2026, 4pm
West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
Ethel Smyth: Overture to The Wreckers
Richard Strauss: Burleske – Piano soloist: Benjamin Grosvenor
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No 5
Performed by:
Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra
Benjamin Grosvenor – Piano
Conductor Otis Enokido-Lineham
Performance – 1 hour 50 minutes including interval
A concert of bold voices and fearless invention. We open with the stormy, impassioned overture to The Wreckers, Ethel Smyth’s opera set on the rugged Cornish coast. With sweeping melodies and dark intensity, this powerful curtain-raiser announces Smyth as one of the great unsung heroines of British music.
Next, superstar pianist Benjamin Grosvenor takes the spotlight in Richard Strauss’s Burleske – a dazzling, high-octane work that brims with sardonic wit and virtuosic brilliance. Part concerto, part musical prank, Burleske dances on a knife-edge between mischief and majesty.
Shostakovich’s gripping Symphony No 5 – veiled protest or triumphant apologia – delivers emotional power and biting irony in one of the 20th century’s most compelling orchestral works.
Conductor: Otis Enokido-Lineham (b.1996) British/Japanese conductor currently based in London.
Last season’s highlight including winning 1st prize at the Giancarlo Facchinetti Conducting Competition in Brescia and reaching the finals of the 2025 International Khachaturian Competition in Armenia, both of which have led to upcoming debuts and concerts throughout Europe.
For the 22/23 season Otis was an Assistant Conductor with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). He also held the position of associate conductor with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group NEXT Programme and worked with both ensembles in a variety of concerts and projects.
Upcoming engagement include work with the Orchestra Sinfonica della Città Metropolitana di Bari, returning to the St.Endellion Festival and National Youth Orchestra and debuts at Opera Holland Park and Glyndebourne.
Since 2021 Otis has taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School as Head of Orchestras and features in their CD release ‘Around The World In 80 Minutes’ alongside artists such as Maxim Rysanov on Orchid Classics. He has also worked with the National Youth Orchestra GB (National Tour), Purcell School Symphony Orchestra (Southbank), London Schools Symphony Orchestra (Barbican), National Children’s Orchestra (London Weekend Project) and on a side-by-side project with the London Mozart Players and students from the GDST.
In the field of contemporary music, he has worked with several of the major ensembles in the UK including London Sinfonietta, BCMG and at the Aldeburgh Festival. Abroad he has performed with the Divertimento Ensemble, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto and Danubia Orchestra and continues a number of these collaborations in the next season. In 2023 he premiered a new opera ‘Hey Maudie’ commissioned by the Roberts Institute of Art and co-written by artist Rachel Jones, composer Joseph Howard and poet Victoria Adukwei Bulley.
“Pianism of the first order” (Boston Classical Review)
“Grosvenor is the real deal” (Financial Times)
British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor has an acclaimed international career as a soloist and chamber musician, which is reflected in his extensive discography on Decca Classics.
During his 2025/26 season, Benjamin debuts with the Swedish Radio (Beethoven 1), performs Ravel’s G major Concerto with Filharmonica della Scala, San Diego Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony and Orchestre Svizzera Italiana and closes the Philharmonia Orchestra’s 80th anniversary season with a UK tour of Stauss’s Burleske. He also returns to the Concertgebouw Amsterdam for his debut performance with John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London.
Previous concerto engagements have included Cleveland, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, NHK Symphony, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestre National de France and Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. In the UK, Benjamin has performed with all the major London orchestras and very regularly at the BBC Proms, including at the First and Last Nights. As well as a solo recital in the Royal Albert Hall, his concerto performances at the Proms have included works by Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Busoni, Shostakovich and Britten. Benjamin’s conductor collaborations include Marin Alsop, Elim Chan, Edward Gardner, Paavo Jarvi, Nathalie Stutzmann, Krzysztof Urbanski and Kazuki Yamada.
Benjamin’s solo recitals have included Tokyo, Berlin, Warsaw, Barbican Centre, Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall and at Klavierfest Ruhr and La Roque d’Anthéron. Last season he was a featured artist at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris and in 2024 he premiered Hommage à Liszt by Brett Dean.
In 2011 Benjamin signed to Decca Classics, the youngest British musician ever to do so, and also their first British pianist in almost 60 years. His impressive discography encompasses solo, chamber works as well as concertos; and has attracted numerous accolades; Chocs de l’année, Prix de Caecilia, Diapason d’or de l’année and Gramophone awards. His most recent release is of solo repertoire by Chopin.
Benjamin is an Ambassador of Music Masters, a charity dedicated to making music education accessible to all children regardless of their background; championing diversity and inclusion.
Tickets: from £15 (Student concessions and free carers’ tickets available)
Pre bookable programme £2
Please note that tickets are purchased on a non-refundable basis.
Access: The building is fully accessible to wheelchair users, with wheelchair / companion seating ramps and accessible toilet facilities.
Accessible Seating We offer wheelchair‑friendly seating for all our shows, along with complimentary tickets for carers. If you or someone in your party requires accessible arrangements, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help secure the right seats. Email tickets@cam-phil.org.uk
Click HERE to find out more.
If you require a free carer’s ticket or have additional access requirements, please get in touch tickets@cam-phil.org.uk
getting to west road concert hall
West Road Travel Arrangements
During the development of the Sigwick site there is some disruption to parking arrangements for our audience and performers. Please see the notes below and allow extra time to park should you be traveling by car, or use public transport where possible.
Parking in front of West Road Concert Hall
There is limited parking in front of the concert hall and this is reserved for guest performers. Please do not double park in this area as it is frequented by pedestrians and cyclists as well as drivers, so needs to be accessible and safe.
Cycling – there are bike racks right outside the entrance to the concert hall
Sigwick site parking
The barrier to the Sidgwick Avenue car park will be raised about half an hour before the hall hire begins (from about 3.30pm). The barrier will remain open until shortly after the concert starts, and will then open automatically for vehicles exiting. This parking is free of charge.
Blue Badge Holders
There are six disabled parking spaces on the Sidgwick Site.
Other parking
The nearest free designated parking location is at Madingley Road Park & Ride, which is approximately a 35 minute walk, or 18 minute journey via the Busway. The Route U bus departs from Eddington Avenue next to the Park & Ride site.
There is limited metered parking on West Road and Sidgwick Avenue, near to the site.
Limited non-metered, on-street parking may be found on Adams Road, Herschel Road and Sylvester Road.
Patrons are reminded that on-street parking is free on West Road and Sidgwick Avenue after 5pm
Pay & display parking on West Road costs £1.40 per 30mins Monday-Sunday from 9am-5pm, max 4hr stay. Please be aware that payment is via cash or app.
The nearest unregulated streets are Herschel, Sylvester and Cranmer Roads, a c.10 minute walk away on the other side of Grange Road. Please note Adams Road currently is closed until June 2026
Public Transport
Busway Route U
The Route U bus departs from Eddintgton Avenue (5 minutes’ walk from Madingley Park & Ride, which has free parking) every 15 – 20 minutes.
Take the bus from Eddington Avenue departing for Addenbrooke’s and alight after 11 stops for the Sidgwick Site, on West Road outside the University Library.
From Cambridge station you can catch the Universal/Route U bus to the University Library stop on West Road approximately 50 metres from the front door.
Here’s a useful site map with bus stops
The Concert Hall is a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride from the main Cambridge railway station.
Park & Ride
Cambridge’s Park & Ride network includes sites at five locations around the city. Please see the Park & Ride website for full details of routes, timetables and prices.
Photos Credit: Bill Hiskett