An evening
of musical excellence
Monday,
20th September 2004
(Article published with kind permission of Northeast Press
Limited,
Sunderland Echo)
REVIEW
SUNDERLAND Symphony
Orchestra's well‑devised programme drew one of its biggest audiences since
the orchestra was formed four years ago.
Welcome guest artists were
Sarah and Gemma Busfield ‑ sisters from Ryhope ‑ who are embarking on
careers as professional sopranos.
MUSICAL SISTERS:
Sarah (left) and Gemma Busfield
The orchestra began with
Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave Overture. It depicts the bleak beauty of the
Hebrides and the surging waves dashing against rocks. The performance
presaged an evening of musical excellence.
Sarah sang her first aria
with soaring lyricism as the medieval priestess in Bizet's opera, The
Pearl Fishers.
Next came a superb
rendition of the exacting cavatina, Una Voce Poco Fa, from The Barber Of
Seville.
Diana Hauber, a violinist
in the orchestra, has recently composed a Fairground Suite. From it we
heard two pieces ‑ Merry Go Round and Ghost Train.
The players captured the
atmosphere of this modern music really well.
Gemma, although suffering
from a slight indisposition, ventured the intricate Laughing Song from Die
Fledermaus. Breathtaking high notes and rhythmic verve, plus orchestral
colouring, produced a sparkling showpiece.
The 1950's musical My Fair
Lady retains its popularity, as was evidenced in the orchestra's
infectious playing of those memorable tunes.
Conductor Rupert Hanson
then ensured an in‑depth reading of Jupiter, from the Planets Suite. In
this, the jollity of a folk dance gives way to the central theme, I Vow To
Thee My Country, which sounded noble and restrained.
Appropriately, there
followed a 60th anniversary tribute to war veterans, with the audience
joining lustily in wartime songs.
Commemorative medals ‑ a
gift from the orchestra ‑ were presented to 18 veterans in the audience.
Gemma and Sarah returned,
with Diane Scott‑McGrath at the piano, to delight everyone with Rossini's
Two Cats duet. Written for two prima donnas to spit meows at each other,
it was a hilarious interlude par excellence.
Finally, the orchestra,
having played convincingly throughout with only a few fluffed notes and a
couple of false entries, led the audience through the much‑loved Last
Night Of Proms' favourites, complete with much patriotic flag waving.
Roy
Horabin
Sunderland Symphony Orchestra; West Park Church, Sunderland.
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