** Positive Points about Various Concerts **
Season - 09/10
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software? You can download a free version of this product developed by Roger
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has a beautiful 2 bedroom holiday cottage called Swann Cottage in Derbyshire. You can get information about renting it
here.
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6th Feb 2010 - 7:30pm - The Bardi
Symphony Orchestra - Claus Efland - Javier Negrin (piano)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
Good to welcome back Javier Negrin (he played the Grieg Piano Concerto
with the Bardi Orchestra in June 2007) to play another audience favourite,
Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto. Taking full advantage of opportunities for
rubato throughout and taking the finale at a great rate of knots this proved a
lively interpretation in all senses of the word!
The artistic climax of the concert came with Carl Nielsen's Symphony
No. 4 "The Inextinguishable". It's a great privilege to work with Claus Efland
on his fellow Dane's great music. The contrasts between the stark tension of
parts of this work and the operetta like lightness of other sections
(especially fine wind section playing here) takes a bit of getting used to.
Claus Efland has complete empathy with these style changes and sells the work
to both the orchestral players and the audience with utter conviction.
The couple of short but crucially exposed brass choral passages showed
the Bardi heavy brass at their sensitive best.
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16th Jan 2010 - 7:30pm -
Helix Ensemble - Richard Davis - Jo Conquest (flute)
St Andrews Church, Countesthorpe
Roger Swann = horn
The Helix Ensembles first visit to St Andrews Church proved a near sell
out. Wearing slick, all black, outfits (no stuffy dinner jackets here !) the
immediate message to the audience was that they were in for an effervescent
feast of music.
Musical Director Richard Davis inspired the ensemble with his flowing
tempo changes ("Mendelessohn's Hebrides Overture should make you feel
sea-sick") and care over orchestral colour and intonation.
The Helix Ensemble enjoy programming new compositions along side
established repertoire. The concert included the first performance of Ivor
Hodgson's "Song and Dance". Skilfully orchestrated, the lyrical "Song"
(including some attractive legato bassoon playing) was followed by a very
lively "Dance".
Another Helix Ensemble tradition is to draw soloists from within the
ensemble. In this case the accomplished Jo Conquest played Malcolm Arnold's
second flute concerto. Taking advantage of Richard Davis' intimate knowledge of
the work (he is principal flautist with the BBC Philharmonic) Ms Conquest
perfectly captured the wispy nature of Malcolm Arnold's finale as well as
proving completely at ease with the technical challenges of the first two
faster movements.
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8th Jan 2010 - 7:30pm - Peter Pan
Julian Ronnie wrote the music and the lyrics for this family friendly
show. The lyrics included some rather clever rhymes that raised some wry smiles
from the audience!
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9th Dec 2009 - 7:30pm -
The Knighton Chamber
Orchestra - Paul Jenkins - Andrew Bound ('cello) - Samantha Ward
(piano)
Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
Great to hear Andrew Bound in action as a 'cellist so soon after his
rewarding efforts with a baton (see concert of 6/12/09 immediately below).
Gentle musical rubato throughout Saint Saens' tuneful 1st Concerto made this a
captivating performance.
This was followed by a chance to hear the rarely heard 1st piano
concert of Mendelssohn. Samantha Ward gave a very energetic performance.
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de Montfort Hall, Leicester
A wonderful evening and a wonderful show case for the Leicester-Shire
Arts In Education service - so vital to the quality of life of Leicester
society.
Christine Taylor (who's baton technique is developing with the passage
of time) conducted the Intermediate Orchestra. Theri string sound was more than
creditable, particularly in Richard Meyer's simplified version of Smetana's The
Moldau.
The Training Orchestra (conducted by Tony Morgan) followed, sounding
energetic but tidy in Shubert's Rosamunde overture. The trumpets clearly
enjoyed the last chord of Bruce Chase's arrangement of Send In the Clowns
!
The rhythmic accuracy and fluency of the Symphonic Wind Band was
obvious from the first bars of "Rush" by Samuel R. Hazo. The horns sounded
great in Catskills (second movement of East Coast Pictures by Nigel Hess). The
band members obviously enjoyed working with director Alan Holford.
The Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra took the stage for the
second half. Andrew Bound led them through two technical challenges from the
standard repetoire, both impressively negotiated with panache before members of
the Symphonic Wind Band and the Training Orchestra joined in for a very loud,
exciting, rendition of the Finale from Saint-Saens Organ Symphony.
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5th Dec 2009 - 7:30pm - University of Leicester Sinfonia - Michael
Sackin - Alison Eales (clarinet) - University of Leicester Choral Society -
Arndrew Goff
Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
This pleasingly incongruous programme started with Michael Sackin
conducting the University of Leicester Sinfonia in Malcolm Arnold's jazzy
Clarinet Concerto No. 2. Soloist Alison Eales kept the tempos moving and
presented a wide of range mood contrasts in the first movement cadenza (written
by Paul Adrian Rooke). The orchestra managed to achieve the hazy shimmering
that is a characteristic of much of Malcolm Arnold's slow movement
writing.
The last movement of CPE Bach's Symphony in D maj W.183 had a well
judged jaunty feel to it.
Christmas social commitments meant that your reviewer was unable to
stay to enjoy the second half performance of Haydn's Nelson Mass.
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2nd Dec 2009 - 7:45pm - James Bowman (Counter tenor) - Dorothy Linell
(Lute)
St Catharine's Church, Houghton on the Hill, Leics
Somewhat away from the more usual fare presented by Houghton Music
Club, this evening had the legendary James Bowman singing in the intimate
surrounds of St Catharine's church. A simple concert of a singer and
accompianist was made enchanting by James Bowman singing from an armed chair in
candlelit surrounds. His care with every phrase beginning and ending was
awsome, as was his control of long notes, often with a discrete dynamic
decrescendo but always with purity of sound and rock steady holding of pitch.
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1st Dec 2009 - 7:00pm - The Tsarina's Slippers
A chocolate box production of Tchaikovsky's little known opera provided
a "thinking man's" Christmas entertainment. If not exactly crammed full of
Tchaikovsky's most memorable tunes the work has much charm, a happy ending and
a truely funny slapstick farce scene in which each of Solokha's lovers (many)
have to hide in sacks. All the more amusing as three of the lovers were played
by seriously large russian singers !
The lighting and the simple but effective sets were actually the key
elements to the evening's success.
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The Friary School Theatre, Litchfield, Staffs.
A team effort from students of the Friary School including a large
chorus made up of members from year 7 through to year 12 yielded a very
colourful and energetic result. Some very efficient and well organised
backstage operations avoided scene changes causing the production to drag.
Good singing from all the main characters, perhaps Laua Giggons as
Laurey Williams deserving a special mention. The characterisation of Ado Annie
Carnes by Hannah Wyss was also most enjoyable.
Tight rhythmical backing from the (student) orchestra (particularly the
five piece brass section) added to the professionalism of the event.
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12th Nov 2009 - 7:00pm - The Wizard of Oz - Main Street Theatre
Company
Great Glen Village Hall, Great Glen, Leics.
A wonderful evening of village entertainment. Ok, so it's not perhaps
up to West End standards but it was still a lot of fun. The Main Street Theatre
Company adopt a cabaret style seating arrangement for their audience which
immediately sets a relaxed tone for the evening. Table 9, just in front of your
reviewer enjoyed singing along with the entract and scene change music
(senstively provided throughout by Richard Palmer (drums) and Keith Folwell
(keyboard)).
Sophie Weston was word perfect as Dorothy (a fine achievement for the
"first night"). Barry Barnes was an excellent Lion (especially enjoyable lyric
where "Prowess" is made to rhyme with "Mouse"). The dynamic Janet Lord brought
life and zest to the Scarecrow (she did a particularly slinky slide off the
pole at the start of her role).
It was good to see plenty of teenage presence in the audience too.
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31st Oct 2009 - 7:00pm - Keswick Halloween Lantern Procession with
Music
Keswick, Cumbria
Starting from the Moot Hall square in Keswick a procession of lanterns
and associated witches and other haloween type creatures progressed to the
shores of Derwent Water where the gathered crowds were treated to some pagan
shouting and three xylophone players trying some interesting musical ideas
against the backdrop of the great outdoors filled with milling people -
resulting in close to inaudible results.
A little more pagan shouting was followed by three sopranos appearing
on the pier, singing. To some extent these, too, were swamped by the space and
the ambient noise but the little singing that did make it to the lake shore
sounded of pleasingly high quality - in tune and in some cases soaring up good
and high.
The event ended with serveral flame fired lantern type hot air balloons
wafting skyward and drifting (still burning away) towards Keswick town
centre.
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Town Hall, Loughborough, Leics
This is the musical equivalent to Tristan und Isolde (see immediately
below) in the sense that if you had a weakness in either of the two title roles
you would be sunk before you started. Fortunately Greasepaint were able to
present Shane Perry as Mack Sennett and Alix Ashurst as Mabel Normand who were
both excellent in both voice and character.
The band under the skillful baton of MD James Stevens were very tight
but were allowed to enjoy swing moments to the full.
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17th Oct 2009 - 5:00pm - Tristan und Isolde
Wagner's master piece is always a show piece for the orchestra who (as
usual) responded to the challenges of the score with consumate ease.
Nina Stemme was totally at ease with the demands of Isolde and Sophie
Koch was a very fine Branagane.
The production by Christof Loy seemed to distract from, rather than
contribute to, the success of the evening with too little regard paid to
Wagner's libretto such that at times it really did seem nonsensical. But if you
shut your eyes and just enjoyed the sound........
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11th Oct 2009 - 7:30pm - The Bardi
Symphony Orchestra - The
Leicestershire Chorale - Claus Efland - Juliet Fraser (soprano), Jonathan
Saunders (baritone), Tom Williams (counter tenor)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
The opening concert of the Bardi 2009/2010 season saw the orchestra
uniting with The Leicestershire Chorale for an exciting performance of Carl
Orff's Carmina Burana.
Although not the largest choir in Leicestershire impressive fortissimo
levels were achieved by the voices in all the necessary places ! A good sized
audience clearly enjoyed the fine playing from all sections of the orchestra
(including a percussion section on fine form).
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10th Oct 2009 - 8:00pm - Methera
Hungarton Village Hall, Hungarton, Leics
Full marks to Hungarton's James Patterson for persuading the unique
string quartet Methera to visit Hungarton. Playing in the centre of the hall
with the audience arranged "cabaret" style at tables all around, lit by
candlelight and "bring your own wine" this was always going to be an enjoyable
evening. But within four bars of the first piece it was clear we were in the
presence of unique ensemble of the highest class.
Sitting facing inwards at the four corners of a tight square,
Emma Reid (violin), John Dipper (violin),
Miranda Rutter (viola) and Lucy Deakin( 'cello) played for an hour without the
incumberance of sheet music, studiously watching each other's moves like hawks.
The result was a torrent of jigs, reels and other "traditional" tunes played
with perfect ensemble, excellent intonation and (more importantly) an
enthusiasm and love of the music that was most infectious.
The word "traditional" must be used with some caution as a good
proportion of the material presented had been composed by individual members of
the group.
This would be a perfect group for young string players to go to see,
perfectly illustrating the variety (and quality) of string playing that can be
achieved - and the joy that creating such music can bring.
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5th Oct 2009 - 7:45pm - Letters of a Love Betrayed
The Linbury Theatre, The Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
Music Theatre Wales brought this work by Eleanor Alberga (Libretto:
Donald Sturrock) to the London Stage with an excellent orchestra conducted by
Michael Rafferty. The orchestration had the double-bass player doubling on a
wine glass and the two brass players playing a kind of thumb harp.
The singers were good too with much of the text easily audible (one of
the many advantages of enjoying opera in a more intimate auditorium). Mary
Plazas htook the main role of Manlia Torres.
Rather a pleasant change to have an opera with a happy (if a little
contrived) ending.
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4th Oct 2009 - 7:30pm - SCAW
St Barnabas Cathedrall Hall, Nottingham
SCAW (Antony Clare, piano and Sarah Watts (bass Clarinet) attracted an
audience of around forty for their Sunday evening concert (part of the Octagon
Concert Series).
The concert started with the formally structured Sonata Op 41 of Othamr
Schoeck complete with an aggressive fuge and speedy Rondo.
Antony Clare frequently programmes music which requires (and gets) a
contained performance for great effect, as was the case with Somei Satoh's
Incarnation II for solo piano. The shimmerings (mostly gentle but not always
so) reminded one of heat distorting the views on a hot summers day. Very
effective. At first glance it sounded easy to play but one suspects that
maintaining this effect for the duration of the work was probably quite a
technical challenge.
Sarah Watts' slightly cheeky approach to Harrison Birtwistle resulted
in a piece for bass clarinet, solo clapping part (Antony Clare) with an
audience participation clapping part too. Rather fun to be involved with but by
no means silly !
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27th Sep 2009 - 7:30pm - St Martin's Sinfonia - Nan Ingrams - Christine
Taylor (clarinet)
Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford, Lincs
Roger Swann = horn
It's great that Nan Ingrams has the courage to put on classical
concerts entirely at her own initiative for the benefit of the people of
Stamford. Good too that she avoids the use of formal evening wear with the band
(and audience?) feeling much more comfortable in an informal attire.
Musically perhaps the most successful item was Mozart's Overture to the
Marriage of Figaro which achieved a spiky feeling of frission and pace.
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27th Sep 2009 - 11:00am - Jenifer Pike (violin) & Martin Roscoe
(piano)
DeMontfort Hall (lounge bar), Leicester
What a good time to have a chamber music concert - particularly with
the option of a glass of sherry or port in the interval. An attentive audience
of well over one hundred indicates that your reviewer is not alone with these
sentiments.
Jenifer Pike entertained with a couple of the ususal fiddle show cases
but the highlights of the concert were her turbulent charged interpretation of
Schumann's Sonata No 1 in A min Op 105 together with her performance of
"Praesagium" composed by her father,
Jeremy Pike, in
2002.
This later piece had a powerful brooding ominous mood throughout.
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23rd Sep 2009 - 7:30pm - COMA East Midlands - Kieran O'Riordan
West Derbyshire United Reform Church, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
Roger Swann = horn
It was flattering for COMA East Midlands to be invited back by the
Wirksworth Festival, following our appearance here two years ago.
Performing many of the pieces from our July 2009 concert meant that
comparisons to that event were inevitable. Clare Stewart had very slightly
revised her Window Wiper Lullaby and novice composers would be wise to note how
her small changes made the piece work significantly better.
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22nd Sept 2009 - 7:30pm - Le Grand Macabre -
English National Opera
The Coliseum, London.
The stage was filled with the form of a naked women very cleverly lit
so as to dramatically change in form. With such a fascinating technical
demonstration on display you were somewhat distracted from Ligeti's marvelous
score and the fine playing and singing going on throughout. Andrew Watts
(Prince Go-Go) and Susanna Andersson (Gepopo - Chief of the Secret Police) were
both particularly impressive on their respective high singing parts.
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