Impressive performance of popular
classics
Wednesday, 11th April 2001
(Article published with kind permission of Northeast Press
Limited,
Sunderland Echo)
Review
City of Sunderland Symphony
Orchestra, West Park United Reformed Church.
THE CoSMOS Orchestra, now in its second
year, presented this evening of popular classics in conjunction with a Sunderland Art Club
exhibition. Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, based on German students songs,
provided the curtain raiser. The orchestra responded well to its various moods, resulting
in a performance of dignity and warmth. Consistently good playing continued when
accompanying two young guest artists.
Katrina Campbell, from Murton, was captivating in
Mozart opera excerpts. A rather touching aria from Figaro, tenderly sung, contrasted
sharply with a brilliant passionate song from Magic Flute, in which Katrina coped
confidently with the high notes and florid phrases.
Afred Ko, from Hong Kong is studying music
and physiology at Sunderland University. His rendition of Mozart’s Violin Concerto
No. 5 (First Movement) was notable for fine articulation and firm control of tone colour
and dynamics.
The Great Gate of Kiev, from
Moussorgsky’s Pictures From An Exhibition, provided a link with the art exhibition
and then, as proof of progress, the orchestra performed an entire symphony for the first
time.
Dvorak's New World Symphony, famous for
it's haunting Largo, draws together previous themes in a compelling finale.
Apart from a few weaknesses, the
performance, as in previous items, was persuasive, colourful and expressive in response to
Rupert Hanson’s authoritative direction.
Roy Horabin
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