* Sheffield Chamber Orchestra offers audiences a rare chance to see and hear the extraordinary ophicleide, a forgotten ancestor of the modern tuba, in a performance of Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture on Saturday 5 December.

SHEFFIELD, UK -- An unusual musical instrument that was once a familiar sight in nineteenth-century orchestras, but is now rarely heard in live performance, will take centre stage at Sheffield Chamber Orchestra's next concert.

The ophicleide, a remarkable brass instrument invented in France around 1817, will be played by rising young musician Ini Kuti when the orchestra performs Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture on Saturday 5 December 2026, under guest conductor Gina Hazell.

With its distinctive curved body, elaborate system of keys and unusual sound, the ophicleide is a fascinating survivor from an earlier age of orchestral music. Once used by composers including Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Verdi and Wagner, it was gradually replaced by the modern tuba during the nineteenth century. Today, its orchestral parts are almost invariably performed on modern instruments.

Sheffield Chamber Orchestra's decision to feature an ophicleide offers audiences an opportunity to discover a sound that has largely disappeared from the concert hall.

"The ophicleide is a keyed brass instrument invented in France around 1817," explains Ini Kuti, who is currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. "It was first used in military bands before becoming one of the principal bass instruments in orchestral brass sections throughout nineteenth-century Western Europe."

Unlike modern brass instruments, which generally use valves to change notes, the ophicleide has between nine and eleven keys that open and close holes along its body. Its sound is equally distinctive.

"The body looks quite similar to that of a bassoon, and the sound can be quite dry and nasal," says Ini.

That unusual tonal quality helped make the instrument a favourite of composers seeking new orchestral colours. One of its most celebrated appearances is in Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, where ophicleides contribute to the dramatic Dies irae in the final movement.

A rare opportunity to hear Mendelssohn's musical world

Mendelssohn composed his celebrated A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture in 1826, aged just seventeen, inspired by Shakespeare's magical comedy. The music evokes an enchanted world of fairies, lovers and mischievous spirits, and remains one of the most popular works in the orchestral repertoire.

For Ini, performing Mendelssohn's music on the ophicleide presents both an exciting opportunity and a formidable technical challenge.

"Mendelssohn is one of the composers who doesn't simply write for the ophicleide as a fourth trombone," he explains. "Instead, he gives it a unique function in all kinds of ways, whether that's reinforcing and doubling bass lines with the low strings or playing higher, intertwining contrapuntal passages with the woodwinds."

The instrument's lighter, more penetrating sound can bring a different character to music now more commonly heard with the modern tuba.

But mastering it is far from straightforward.

"The ophicleide is quite a challenge because, with its many tone holes, intonation can be difficult to control and can easily be miles off," says Ini. "I enjoy the challenge of the delicate control that historical instruments such as the ophicleide require, and their different tones."

A rising young musician with a passion for musical history

Originally from Stockport, Greater Manchester, Ini Kuti is in his third year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studies tuba performance on a full Leverhulme Trust Scholarship. He also studies the ophicleide with historical brass specialist Andrew Kershaw, whose performing experience includes the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Ini's musical achievements already include performances with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain at the BBC Proms in London's Royal Albert Hall, and a professional orchestral debut as guest Principal Tuba with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

His fascination with historical brass instruments began when, as a child, he discovered an online video of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique performed on period instruments.

"This captivated me at a young age and sent me down all sorts of rabbit holes, learning more about historical low brass," he recalls. "To my surprise, they were all related to the tuba in some way."

He now hopes to develop a career combining modern orchestral performance with a specialism in historical low brass instruments.

For Sheffield's concertgoers, Ini has an enthusiastic invitation.

"Seeing the ophicleide being used outside period performances is quite rare nowadays, as the tuba covers most of its parts in modern practice. So, for a first-time listener, this is a great chance to hear it in the music for which it was intended - and potentially see it up close after the concert!"

An evening of musical discovery

The concert, conducted by Gina Hazell, features an attractive programme spanning more than a century of orchestral music.

Alongside Mendelssohn's enchanting overture, audiences will hear Dvorák's colourful Czech Suite, Handel's elegant Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, Op. 6 No. 7, and the richly expressive Symphony No. 1 by the pioneering French composer Louise Farrenc.

Together, the works promise an evening of musical discovery, combining familiar favourites with less frequently heard masterpieces.

Whether you're a lifelong classical music enthusiast, a brass player curious about the history of your instrument, or simply looking for an enjoyable evening of live music, Sheffield Chamber Orchestra's December concert offers something special.

Concert details

Date: Saturday 5 December 2026Orchestra: Sheffield Chamber OrchestraConductor: Gina HazellFeatured performer: Ini Kuti - ophicleide

Programme:

Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream OvertureHandel - Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, Op. 6 No. 7Dvorák - Czech SuiteLouise Farrenc - Symphony No. 1 in C minor

Tickets and further information: https://www.scorchestra.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

About Sheffield Chamber Orchestra

Sheffield Chamber Orchestra is an established part of the city's classical music scene, bringing together talented musicians to perform a diverse repertoire, from Baroque masterpieces to Romantic symphonies and contemporary works. The orchestra is a registered charity, committed to making high-quality live orchestral music accessible to audiences in Sheffield and the surrounding region, while providing opportunities for emerging musical talent.

About Ini Kuti

Ini Kuti is an emerging professional tuba player and historical brass specialist studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. A recipient of a full Leverhulme Trust Scholarship, he has performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Halle Youth Orchestra and Birmingham Royal Ballet. He studies the ophicleide with Andrew Kershaw and is developing a specialism in historical low brass performance.

Media enquiries

Sheffield Chamber OrchestraWebsite: https://www.scorchestra.uk

Photographs available: Images of Ini Kuti with the ophicleide and further information about the instrument and concert can be supplied for editorial use.

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