Willoughby Symphony Inspirations

A delightful concert here's what I thought for Sydney Arts Guide http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/willoughby-symphony-presents-inspirations-the-concourse-chatswood/Under the umbrella title INSPIRATIONS, the Willoughby Symphony led by the precise, dynamic baton of Alexander Briger, presented four short works which made for a musical feast with something for everyone. Throughout the concert there was a dynamic, warm tone, spectacular solos and fine ensemble playing. The wonderful Caro String Quartet were featured in the first half of the programme. First on the programme was Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. This piece was given a lush, lyrical , haunting performance with the three sections of the orchestra, full of rich intensity, wonderfully overlapping, at times. There was a yearning violin solo which was then repeated and developed by another player along with the orchestra. At times, the orchestra swirled, bubbled and rippled and then there was a sudden dark and ominous change towards a wave like ending. The Caro Quartet was again featured in the second contemporary piece Hindson’s The Rave and the Nightingale ( 2001). This piece was inspired by Schuberts’ Quartet No 15 in G Major. The opening was very dramatic, the theme stated and then developed in circular repetitions. The second movement was full of sharp, rich spiky strings, feeling like a trapped bird in flight. The piece shimmered, surged and swelled passionately towards an unexpected, stamping conclusion. The audience absolutely loved it and there was prolonged applause and cheering to take us to interval. The second half opened with a stylish spellbinding rendition of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream : Overture Op. 21. This piece was lush and luminous with the delicate, flitting fairies on speedy violins contrasted with slower hypnotic strings (Oberon and Titania ) and the rumbustious fun of the Mechanicals. (For balletomanes – Ashton fans will see in their mind’s eye Bottom’s pas de cheval ). This was a shimmering, flickering magical version played with great enjoyment by the orchestra. The bulk of the second half consisted of a magnificent, multi-layered and thoughtful rendition of Schubert’s Symphony No.6 in C D.589 ( the “ Little C Major’) in four movements. With intense playing , and a bright warm sound by the Orchestra throughout, the work had a sharp dramatic opening, followed by the fiery strings in a dialogue with the woodwind .The melody was stated and repeated in circular thoughts. The second movement was somewhat slower than the first with again the string starting the melody which was then echoed by the woodwind. There were striking flourishes. The third movement, reminiscent of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, was off to a fast and furious beginning leading to a rather pompous, stately section that eventually saw a return to more repeats and development by the orchestra. The last movement had a sunnier feel, strings and woodwind together in a delicious ,stirring ending of the rondo finale . Running Time- just on two hours including an interval. A wonderful concert, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of its INSPIRATIONS concert took place at the Concourse, Chatswood on the weekend of the 16th and 17th April. http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/willoughby-symphony/2016/ http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/willoughby-symphony/2016/subscribe-now/ )