Musical Director:
Leonard Weiss
Soloist: Christopher
Pidcock, Cello
The Q Theatre,
Queanbeyan 5 August
Reviewed by Len Power
Playing to a packed Q Theatre in Queanbeyan under the firm direction
of Leonard Weiss, the National Capital Orchestra (NCO) gave an entertaining
concert of three works by the British composers - Holst, Vaughan Williams and
Elgar - plus the world premiere of an interesting new work by Canberra
composer, Chloe Sinclair.
The concert commenced with ‘A Somerset Rhapsody’ by Gustav
Holst. Written in 1907 and first
performed in 1910, the work incorporates four folk songs from Somerset in
England. It was Holst’s first critically
acclaimed work. The orchestra played this
atmospheric and melodic work very well.
Next on the program was Chloe Sinclair’s ‘Autonomy’, a new
work commissioned by the orchestra and given its world premiere at this
concert. An emerging composer in her
final year of study at the ANU, Sinclair showed great promise with this engaging
and dramatic work which was given a colourful and energetic performance by the
orchestra.
 |
| Chloe Sinclair and Leonard Weiss |
Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 8 in D minor was first
performed in 1955. A short symphony with
a second movement played only by brass and woodwinds, it has moments of great
drama along with lyrical sections that are highly pleasing. The orchestra played the first movement
especially well and produced a clear sound for the quieter second and third
movements, leading on to a well-played dramatic finale.
 |
| Christopher Pidcock |
After interval, cello soloist, Christopher Pidcock joined
the orchestra for Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
One of Australia’s best known musicians, Pidcock performs full-time with
the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and is in high demand overseas as well. First performed in 1919, Elgar’s well-known
work has a sweeping grandeur that was played very well by the orchestra. Christopher Pidcock gave an intensely sensitive
performance that was very appealing and memorable.
The choice of works by the three British composers of the 20th
century complemented the new work by Chloe Sinclair. Once again, the NCO gave their large audience
an afternoon of well-played fine music.
Photos by Peter
Hislop
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.