South Suffolk Youth Orchestra Concert Review
Another week, another concert; this time it was for the South Suffolk Youth Orchestra, who, as is tradition in these parts, perform a full orchestral programme to end the year.
After the enthralling rehearsal, which rather amusingly featured Tim creating new names for all the pieces, much to the dispair of Francais (Habenera became ‘ave a Banana for instance!), it was time for the concert. We all stood up to welcome the conductor, but she then looked rather panicked. Turning round to the audience, it transpired that every conductor’s worst nightmare had happened to her. “I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, I appear to have misplaced my baton,” she told them as she hurried off to try and find it. She reappeared having been successful, and the concert could begin.
The first piece was Italian Girl in Algiers Overture by Rossini. The beginning was sort-of together, before the Rossini Rocket took centre stage. After numerous repititions of the same chord sequence (not even Rossini could avoid D-B min-G-A) it was finally over. Time for the “best piece in the programme” to begin.
Khachaturian’s Spartacus Suite No. 2 was played very well indeed, and was jolly good fun. I personally find it a great piece of music (unlike some who find it too populist). Despite a blatant counting error from me, the horns really enjoyed blasting out some of the melodies we were given (well 3 of us did anyway).
I must mention the percussion section at this point, gamely made up of John Jermy and Vince Taber, two excellent brass teachers. The double act was superb, and the majority of notes were in the right places – but it was not just the notes, it was the way they were played, with such style and panash.
After the interval, we gave a performance of the majority of both Carmen Suites by Bizet. I had a very quiet part, but it went fine from what I could be bothered to listen to. I did think, though, that the encore was quite unnecessary – after the final movement, we replayed the first March of the Toreadors with audience participation.
Still, an excellent concert, if a little horn-lite – next year will make up for that though! A great way to end yet another year – my third full year in the orchestra and my fifth in the South Suffolk Youth Music ensembles – where does the time go?