AN ENJOYABLE Last Night of the Proms was spent with
Sunderland Symphony Orchestra and guest soprano Sarah Busfield, also Sunderland Ladies
Choir (conductor, Jason Hobbs) and Usworth School Chorale.
The evening began with the American and British National Anthems and one
minute's silence in an act of remembrance.
The excitement and sparkle of Suppé's Light Cavalry Overture set the scene for
Sarah's brilliantly sung Rossini Aria, Una Voce Poco Fa.
Studying at the Birmingham Conservatoire of Music, Miss Busfield, from
Ryhope, displayed further standards of excellence in excerpts from Gounod and Gilbert and
Sullivan. Sarah's career should go far in the operatic world.
The orchestra, under Rupert Hanson's direction, provided sympathetic support
then produced some colourful and confident playing in favourites such as Verdi’s
Prelude from La Traviata, the Sleeping Beauty Waltz, Finlandia and the Overture to HMS
Pinafore.
The Ladies Choir was warmly received for well-balanced part-singing in Brother
James’s Air and Panis Angelicus. I felt that maybe the piano should have been
amplified.
The smartly-uniformed youngsters comprising Usworth School Chorale - Rupert's
brain child - were left in no doubt that their enthusiastic presentation of Any Dream Will
Do had won their listeners' hearts.
Throughout the programme there were a few flaws, but with such a mix of mature
and less experienced performers one expects moments of imperfection.
After the interval we heard some impeccable playing from the orchestra's
soloists and brass section in Sir Henry Wood's arrangement of Sea Songs. Here the audience
came into its own, heartily participating with voice and flag waving as Sarah and the
choirs led the ritualistic singing.
To conclude, Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory was replaced by Sousa's Stars and
Stripes march.The piece proved immensely popular and the conductor had to keep the
rhythmic hand-clapping precisely under control.
But Rupert had faced a more serious problem earlier in the day. He had to find
substitutes for the French horn section which included the principal, Gary Nichol,
stranded out in Florida. As it turned out - it was all right on the night.
LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS, City of Sunderland Symphony Orchestra; Sunderland
Empire.
