AFTER
the September 17 concert at West Park Church, to celebrate the 60th
anniversary of victory over Japan, Rupert Hanson surely is monarch of
the rostrum.
His
Sunderland Symphony Orchestra are the princes and princesses, dukes,
earls, barons and lords and ladies of their instruments, and his
Sing‑a-long Chorus are his courtiers and ladies-in‑waiting. Rupert's
crown is his orchestra's appearance, not only the sublime expressions
concentration put on their faces, but also the polished wood of the
violin, viola, cello and bass, the gold of the brass, the diamond flash
of flute, piccolo and clarinet, the setting of bassoon and oboe, and
over all, in place of a strip of ermine, a row of flowers.
On this
occasion the jewel in the crown had to be princess Georgina Wells's harp
in Holst's Jupiter, conducted by a contender for succession, lord Gary
Nichol. That there is another contender in lord Gregory Pullen, who
backed the cello section led by earl Jim Bickel shows the quality at
court.
To
maintain his household the monarch is fortunate in having lord
chamberlain David Mills on organ and tuba and designer and publisher of
the very attractive and informative programme. To provide variety at
court the monarch interspersed Khachaturian, Verdi and Rossini with
Godfrey's Lucy Long playfully delivered by barons of the bassoon Paul
Judson and Tony Hedley, Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever in recognition
of the help given us by America in the war, the Dambusters March in
recognition of the RAF, Henry Wood's Sea Songs and the beautiful mellow
tones of earl Jim Bickel's cello.
The
king was his own court jester leading his courtiers and
ladies‑in-waiting (to darling queen, Valerie) of the Sing‑a‑long Chorus
in Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major, then mixed contemporary with
patriotic.
What an
evening!
Jim
Pearson,
Woodville Crescent,
High
Barnes,
Sunderland
