Concert 1st March
The recently formed Solent Concert Orchestra is fast establishing itself as one of the leading orchestras in the area if last Sunday’s concert at Christ Church, Freemantle was anything to go by. Under the inspirational Simon Wilkins, the orchestra’s conductor and director of music, an almost full-house was treated to an outstanding early Spring concert of classical music.
The afternoon started with Mendelssohn’s ‘Fingal’s Cave from the well known ‘Hebrides Overture’ followed by Faure’s ‘Pavane’. The vivid imagery of the sea rolling back from the coastal rocks of Fingal’s Cave contrasted nicely with a somewhat pensive interpretation of the ‘Pavane’. Then we had three pieces by Dvorak which provided a wide range of musicality, firstly the ‘Waltz No.2’followed by the delicate ‘Slavonic Dance No.2’and thirdly, the rumbustuous ‘Slavonic Dance No. 8’.
The second half opened with three dances from ‘Le Roi s’amuse’ by Delibes delightfully played by the orchestra, however, the highlight of the afternoon was about to follow, namely, the ‘Symphony No. 4 in C minor (The Tragic)’ by Franz Schubert. Perhaps, as Simon said in his short preamble, it might have been better described as ‘(The Dramatic)’ rather than the (The Tragic). This brought the very best out of the orchestra. The short sombre opening was suddenly replaced by a rip-roaring Allegro Vivace. A similar pattern occurred when the Andante and Menuetto preceded the sheer pace and high octane of the final Allegro.
The concert was obviously enjoyed by the appreciative audience as was shown by their prolonged applause at the end.
Over £200 was raised for the Society of St. James, which supports the homeless in Southampton, in addition to a goodly sum for the Christ Church funds.
Future concerts by the Solent Concert Orchestra will take place at 3pm Sunday 17th May at the Lymington United Reform Church and at 7.30pm on Saturday 17th October at All Saints Church, Milford-on-Sea. Further information is available on www.solentconcertorchestra.org.uk