THIS weekend will see the return of the Brighton Philharmonic for their first concert since principal conductor Barry Wordsworth stood down.

Replacing him this Sunday will be...conductor laureate, Barry Wordsworth.

Having been musical director of the city’s orchestra for 20 years, Mr Wordsworth announced he would be stepping “sideways” into the conductor laureate position at the end of last season, allowing the orchestra to spend up to two years finding a replacement.

He said: “I hoped it would be a slow and considered move, and so it is proving. I’m happy to bridge the gap.

“There’s nothing so important to the orchestra and the audience than having the right person there.

“The relationship between the conductor and the orchestra is like a marriage really, it either clicks or it doesn’t.

“And if it’s not working, it’s not immediately apparent why it’s not.”

Explaining his decision to step down as principal conductor, he said “I didn’t want to die in the job” adding “and one wants to be as statesmanlike as one can.”

He will therefore continue to conduct most of this season’s concerts, while the 2016/17 season is likely to see a number of guest conductors as the search for a new principal enters its closing stages.

The first notes of the 2015 season will be played at 2.45pm this Sunday at the Brighton Dome.

The concert will open with Francesca da Rimini by Tchaikovsky, feature Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 played by virtuoso pianist Stephen Hough. It will close with a piece by little-known Russian composer Kalinnikov.

Mr Wordsworth said: “The first concert we’ll be doing starts with a fantastic overture by Tchaikovsky.

“The mixture of the season is exciting, the Kalinnikov for instance, many people will be unfamiliar with because he died very young.

“But he was recognised by Tchaikovsky as a great talent.

“It’s a lovely lovely work full of the most ravishing Russian melodies, it’s going to delight the audience.

“They’ll be thrilled there’s this extraordinary piece they didn’t know.”

At two and a quarter hours, including intermission, Mr Wordsworth promised that audiences would “get their money’s worth” from what he said would be “a good meaty concert.”

Later in the season, the Brighton Festival Chorus will join the Philharmonic for Vaughan Williams’ Choral Symphony, singing the poetry of Walt Whitman.

Reflecting on his elevated position as conductor laureate, he said that he is not treated any differently by the orchestra.

“No no,” he said, “I don’t even have to wear a wreath of green leaves.”

For more details and tickets visit brightonphil.org.uk.