ALBA’s Summer Concert had many Concertos, all to show off the many talented players in the orchestra, they also had a very talented guest Guitarist, Zoe Barnett.
They began with Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F, a work that has 4 soloists – The Leader of the orchestra: Lucy Cumming on Violin and Principals, Barry Solomon on Oboe, Kerenza Allin Garner on Flute and Dylan Lehner on Piccolo Trumpet. This was a thrilling and entertaining performance, with all soloists demonstrating their superb technique. Special mention for Dylan,his bravery in playing the Piccolo Trumpet, a devil of an instrument with the high notes taxing the musician’s lips to the limit.
Next, a concerto for Viola and small orchestra by British Composer Malcolm Arnold. The soloist was principal Violist – Stephen Brown, a founder member of the Orchestra. This is awork by a troubled genius, with dark brooding passagescounterbalanced against flashes of brilliant lyricism. Orchestra and soloist found just the right balance throughout.
To take us to the interval, they played a very popular Operatic piece, the Intermezzo to Petro Mascagni’s Opera - Cavalleria Rusticana. This was well received by the audience, nothing like an old warhorse to please a crowd!
Another Concerto began the second half, this time Tom Pinnell demonstrating his technical prowess on the Horn, in Francesco Antonio Rossetti’s Horn Concerto in D minor. This is a brilliant piece with plenty of difficult runs, leaps, with high and low notes for the horn. Tom nailed and negotiated them all with ease. The applause at the end was warm and enthusiastic. Well done, Tom.
A short, wonderful piece of Light classical music followed, –Forgotten Dreams by American composer, Leroy Anderson. This is the sort of music Derek Holland and ALBA play so effortlessly, it isn’t forgotten, but remembered with affection.
The final work was by Spanish composer, Joaquin Rodrigo, his Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and orchestra. The soloist was a young talented Guitarist making a name for herself nationally and internationally, Zoe Barnett. She played this warm and lyrical work with great sensitivity, care and attention, demonstrating why she is such a sought-after soloist. There are also many opportunities for the orchestra to play with, or without the soloist in chamberlike groups, such is the intricate and brilliant scoring.The long and beautiful slow movement had many of these moments, which were simply exquisite. In the finale, soloist and orchestra brought the warm evening to a close with Spanish Fiesta. The audience responded with well-deserved loud and appreciative applause; now we await the next concert, on the 14thof September 2024.
By Graham Wilson (Review for ALBA)
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