ÿþ<html> <head> <title>The Mid-Somerset Orchestra</title> <link rel="STYLESHEET" type="text/css" href="ss1.css" /> </head> <body> <img src="space.gif" width="150" /></br> <a href="index.html"><img src="mso_logo.gif" width="150" /></br> <img src="space.gif" width="150" /></br> <a href="home_page.html"> <img src="home_page.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="this_season.html"> <img src="this_season.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="next_programme.html"> <img src="next_programme.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="loyalty.html"> <img src="loyalty.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="review.html"> <img src="review.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="venues.html"> <img src="venues.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="biographies.html"> <img src="biographies.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="photos.html"> <img src="photos.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="trivia.html"> <img src="trivia.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="repertoire.html"> <img src="repertoire.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="mailto:dldixon@lineone.net"> <img src="contact_us.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <a href="links.html"> <img src="links.gif" width="150" /></a> </br> <p></p> <span style="position: absolute; left: 250px; top: 50px"> <div align="center"><h1>Review of the 2012 Spring concert</h1></div></br></br></br> <h2>St. Cuthbert's Church, Wells, Saturday 28th April, 2012</h2></br> </br> <h2>Review; Mid-Somerset Orchestra</h2></br> Last Saturday, [28/04/2012] the Mid-Somerset Orchestra (Leader, Hywel Jenkins) under the guiding hands of their conductor, Stephen Smith performed their spring concert to a well-filled St Cuthbert s Church, Wells. The programme consisted of three purely orchestral works all with tragic connotations. </br></br> The first item was Brahms Tragic Overture, written as a counterbalance to his Academic Overture which had been composed in response to his receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Breslau University. The confidently played opening chords heralded a performance of suitable gravity with an aptly chosen steady tempo. There were some instances of poor tuning from both woodwind and brass sections which detracted somewhat from the overall impact of an otherwise good representation of the piece. </br></br> The other work in the first half of the programme was one of Tchaikovsky s most popular works, the Fantasy Overture; Romeo and Juliet. This received a performance of considerable power and sensitivity despite some ragged playing in the opening pages. </br></br> The allegro, although taken at a steady pace, made a strong impression with the off beat, clashing chords being delivered with power and accuracy. The string passage leading into the second subject was atmospherically played and the cor anglais sensitively played the theme itself. The development section was well controlled building up to a thrilling climax in which the trumpets grasped their opportunity to let rip with enthusiasm. The recapitulation saw the strings give a passionate account of the big tune. </br></br> In the closing funeral march there was some heart-rending playing from the strings, especially the cellos. The woodwind played the chorale-like passage with considerable sensitivity and were beautifully in tune. This was a moving conclusion to a memorable performance. </br></br> The final work of the evening was Beethoven s great  Eroica Symphony. This was an impressive performance. These days, the first movement is frequently played at a brisk one in a bar. Stephen Smith elected for three in a bar thus giving the piece more time to  breathe . Perhaps some of Beethoven s accents could have been more marked and a touch more rubato employed, especially at the lead into the second subject. The coda was well controlled rounding off a good account of the movement. </br></br> The Funeral March was played with dignified intensity and all sections of the orchestra acquitted themselves well, especially the sensitive first oboe. </br></br> The Scherzo was taken at a fairly sedate pace which gave it, appropriately, a slightly sinister feel  this movement is no joke as its title might imply! The trio section is always a challenge to the horns. Before the advent of the great Denis Brain, even professional players frequently fell at this hurdle. On this occasion, the M.S.O team made a creditable showing. </br></br> The final movement went with a swing, moving to a climax with the horns confidently giving out the main theme. The long coda was well sustained with the final headlong rush to the close bringing the evening to an exciting conclusion. Stephen Smith and his players certainly merited more audience appreciation than they were shown. </br></br> The Orchestra s Summer Prom will be on 7th July in Strode Theatre, Street. </br></br></br></br> Brendan Sadler </br> </div> </span> </body> </html>