Review, Orchestra West, conducted by Martyn Owen, Queens College, May 10.

THE concert consisted of three popular romantic' works, and was greatly appreciated by the capacity audience.

Commencing with the Hansel and Gretel Overture by Humperdinck, the orchestra soon settled into some fine playing, and produced a sonorous warm texture.

Martyn Owen's steady tempi allowed the brass and wind players to enjoy the fine orchestral writing, and the audience to appreciate the wealth of counterpoint contained in this deceptively tuneful work.

The orchestra was joined by Frances Dewar as soloist in the Bruch First Violin Concerto, and here the ensemble playing throughout was little short of magical.

The solo part in this most popular of all violin concertos is more than just a highly decorative display of technique, and Frances Dewar displayed effortless musicality in her playing.

The soloist often emerges from the middle of the orchestral writing, and is an important element of the total texture.

The balance is not merely of a soloist accompanied by an orchestra, and the performance gave every indication that each individual player understood this. Particularly impressive was the link between the first and second movements, and the final few pages of the second movement were heart-rendingly ravishing.

The third movement could perhaps have just moved a shade more energetically for my taste, but it certainly had the feel of two beats in a bar, which Bruch demanded, and emphasised the grace and dexterity of the writing, and was a sensible pace. Many conductors turn this into a ponderous and weighty affair, which the composer did not intend.

After the interval, the audience was treated to a remarkable performance of the Sibelius Second Symphony. Again, the ensemble playing was little short of miraculous, the orchestra negotiating the rather exposed entries of the second movement in particular with enormous skill.

If I commend the lower strings for the precision of their pizzicati, this is not to deny all the other players their praise for some very fine playing, and Martyn Owen especially for a masterly display of support and control as conductor throughout the evening.

The standard of Orchestra West concerts is often amazing, and this one was exceptional. The audience could hardly have been aware that this performance was produced on a minimal rehearsal schedule, and not the result of a prolonged period of preparation. Their next concert is on July 19th. when they will be performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. I urge my readers to get their tickets now to be sure of a seat.

F.E Burroughes

5:53pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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