Verdi: Hymn and Triumphal March from Aida
Wagner: Overture from Rienzi
Borne: Fantasy on Themes from Bizet's Carmen
R Strauss: Waltz Sequence from Der Rosenkavalier
Tchaikovsky: Excerpts from Eugene Onegin
"Operatic treat"
"For their final concert of this season, Bristol Concert Orchestra presented an operatic selection with a Gala Night of Music from the Opera.
Verdi's Hymn and Triumphal March from Aida produced a lively start to the proceedings with the brass section in particular playing some difficult passages with great skill.
After a sparkling performance of Wagner's Rienzi Overture the novelty piece of the evening was French composer François Borne's Fantasy on Themes from Bizet's Carmen for clarinet and orchestra.
The varied piece gave the soloist, Nicholas Shipman, a chance to show all the virtuosity and sensitivity one would expect from a former pupil of the famous clarinettist Jack Brymer.
The final work in this part of the concert was the First Waltz Sequence from Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier in which the lushness of the strings was very evident.
Fifty minutes of excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin was a considerable undertaking, but Stefan Hofkes, the excellent conductor, had the backing of two distinguished soloists, Fabienne Borget (soprano), who sang Tatyana's famous Letter Song with considerable panache, and Paul Sheehan (baritone), who gave considerable support in the role of Onegin.
The closing scene, in which the two main characters meet and then part, brought this successful concert to a dramatic end".
Star rating: **** out of *****
(John Packwood - Bristol Evening Post - 1 July 2002)
Last updated: 04 April 2005
