REVIEW

Poulenc: Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani (Soloist: Alistair MacKenzie)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 6 "Pathétique"

"The orchestra chose a varied programme for their final appearance of the season.

Dvořák's Scherzo Capriccioso is a piece of many moods and the players, after a cautious start, conveyed the various subtleties of the score with a rousing performance.

Poulenc's Organ Concerto, written a year before the outbreak of the Second World War, is at times an enigmatic work. In its one-movement form it shows darkly baroque aspects contrasting with the jollity in the more vibrant passages.

The string section showed their true ability when accompanying the outstanding soloist Alistair McKenzie and the first-rate acoustics in the church added to the enjoyment of this rarely heard concerto.

Tchaikovsky's Pathétique remains deservedly one of the most popular symphonies of the 19^th Century repertoire and Stefan Hofkes, the excellent conductor, directed the orchestra in a pleasing presentation of this classical masterpiece. The sweeping strings in the first movement, the extraordinary richness and solemnity of the brass before the final Coda; allthese features were clearly evident in the final outcome.

We look forward to some imaginative programming in the coming season."

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Last updated: 26 April 2002