On Sunday evening, August 8, a large audience gathered under cover in Vivary Park’s show marquee for Taunton Flower Show’s Promenade concert, given by Orchestra West under the baton of its director John Cole. The orchestra was supported by a choir of almost 60 Amici and Friends, by the nationally famous Rossendale 2nd Scout Group Band and by a children’s choir assembled by Lisa Tustian.

Rossendale had ably provided entertainment whilst people dined al fresco prior to the concert, but summoned us to the concert proper with Copeland’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’. Everyone enjoyed the National Anthem arranged for band and orchestra by Rodney Newton, who was present.

Barry Haskey’s delicious violin solo in The Lark Ascending, led into a wonderfully raucous American in Paris, complete with taxi horns and tuba solos. The change of mood from the gentle serenity of the Lark to the brassy exuberance of the Gershwin was remarkably well executed. Verdi’s Triumphal Scene from Aida came next. The conductor apologised for the absence of elephants and dancers, but the truly fine singing from the happily augmented ranks of Amici, with Rossendale providing the offstage band brought us to the interval in fine form.

Rossendale brought the crowd to order after the interval with a very jazzy version of Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue which duly set the mood for Buketov’s arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture. This was simply magnificent, beginning with the Russian Hymn, sensitively sung with a wonderful second bass line, then building inexorably to a fantastic climax in which the orchestra, the offstage band and chorus raised the roof, aided by bells and by properly timed cannon fire. The children’s choir, not fazed at all by the occasion, sang their little interludes in Russian and from memory, most impressively.

A gentler moment came next with Lynn Carter playing Morricone’s ‘ Gabriel’s Oboe’ with impressive musicality, and with Nino Rota’s ‘Godfather’ theme.

Henry Wood’s Fantasia on Sea Songs demonstrated the great quality of this orchestra’s principal players, especially Sara Lovell’s cello solo, ‘Tom Bowling’, and Nick White’s amazing Clarinet cadenza. This led us directly into Rule Britannia with the familiar sight of Linda Marshall Cole suitably bedecked in helmet and shield commanding centre stage as only she can.

A traditional ending with lots of audience participation sent us all home content and uplifted, feeling privileged to have such quality music available to us. Long may it continue.