Orchestra Hits the right note in thank-you concert
Ian Stuart-Hunter writes in the Perthshire Advertiser (30/08/2013)
Perth Youth Orchestra’s Monday concert was given as a ‘thank-you’ to supporters after their very successful 50th anniversary tour of Italy. With works they had played, they showed all the benefits of greater experience at Perth Concert Hall and, no doubt, happy memories.
This was certainly true of conductor Allan Young, who told the audience that it was something he would remember for ever and how pleased he was that his and the faith of parents was vociferously shared by some 2000 Italians at one concert! They began William Walton’s 1937 Coronation March Crown Imperial with the rich unanimity of strings and the glint of trumpets, building to a golden statement from all the brass.
Apart from the firsts, the strings launched the glorious tune of the Trio. The whole ensemble finally bringing it back resplendently at the end.
A smaller orchestra set a fine devotional atmosphere for the entrance of Merran Kay as cello soloist in Bruch’s well-known Kol Nidrei. With her deeply felt noble tone and lack of theatricality, it was a fine choice – the impassioned third section was a highlight.
With all the wind and brass going off Merran took her seat as First Cello for the three movements from the strings alone Holst’s St Paul’s Suite.The vigorous Jig with wide dynamics led to spontaneous applause and an emotionally felt Andante, with Leader Euan Holmes fine solos. The sound of the massed strings, some 50 in all, was splendid.
Magnus Pickering impressed as soloist in Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto, projecting with panache from the exciting opening flourish onwards.After the joyous Allegro, he played the slower section with longer breathed sustained tone. Even in the interval the PYO did not rest, as in a big band format they entertained the foyer from first floor level.
In Robert Smith’s Inferno a fine oboe solo led to an amazingly vigorous orchestral tutti. With use of strange instruments to portray the souls in hell the entire orchestra threw themselves vigorously into the filmic vividness of this Respighi-like piece. A short question and answer session with a particularly engaging questioner gave a good flavour of the musicians’ enjoyment and incidents of the tour. As did Allan Young before the encore.
In a selection from Les Miserables they had a rightness of style playing with verve and enjoyment, with a masterly final crescendo, they delighted equally in the spooky; mystic atmosphere and the good tunes of Lord of the Rings, fine especially for the two singers, who came from and returned to the ranks of the orchestra.
In reply to the incessant applause from the large delighted audience Allan Young and an enthusiastic PYO gave Lord of the Dance with its final frenetic acceleration as an exciting encore.