WEST
Park Church was almost filled to capacity with an audience determined to
enjoy the jollification of a VJ Day 60th Anniversary Concert postponed
from last month.
Participating were the Sunderland Symphony Orchestra, Sunderland soprano
Vera Vincent and the recently formed East End Sing‑a-long Chorus.
The
classical content of the programme was listened to in pin‑drop silence,
the orchestra's musicality obviously having immense appeal. Rupert
Hanson's insistence on clarity and sharpness of attack produced the
drama and tension required in Verdi's Force of Destiny overture.
Staying
with Verdi, the 40‑voice choir, performing under cramped conditions,
made a deep impression with the Hebrew Slaves Chorus, sung with dignity
and refinement. The orchestra lent colourful support.
The
players then responded faithfully to Gary Nichols' direction of Jupiter
from the Planets Suite. His decisive control produced tight precision
and unity of style. Exuberant passages contrasted vividly with the
central I Vow To Thee My Country theme.
For
Gary, the principal French horn player, this was to be his last concert
appearance before leaving the North East.
Also
bidding farewell to the orchestra was 78‑year‑old violinist Sid Ross,
whose composition, The Simonside Hills, with its tuneful and gentle
rhythmic features, was enjoyed.
In a
lighter vein, bassoonists Paul Judson and Tony Hedley displayed virtuoso
skills in Godfrey's Variations On Lucy Long. It was followed by the
Dambusters March, both items being ideally placed before the interval
break.
Composer Sousa's rousing Stars And Stripes March set the mood for a
sequence of Prom favourites.
Khachaturian's Spartacus theme, as used in the BBC's Onedin Line
television series, proved popular. Rendered with genuine feeling, this
passionate episode never fails to stir the imagination.
Vera
Vincent, having taken a Vera Lynn role in some wartime sing‑a-long
songs, further led the last night Prom evergreens, with enthusiastic
support from choir and audience
Her
appealing soprano voice befitted the occasion. Musical standards,
consistently high throughout the concert were upheld in Henry Wood's
taxing arrangement of Sea Songs.
There
were momentary hitches such as when the percussion section failed to
keep pace with the conductor, but then absolute perfection is rarely
achieved. All performers deserved the prolonged applause given at the
conclusion of a memorable evening.
