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Ryan Centre, Stranraer

Saturday, 27 March, 2010 at 7.00pm

Conductor  -  Geoff Keating

Cello  -  Tom Rathbone

(this performance was supported by West Fest)

Programme :

Crit posted in local press:

Last Saturday, a packed audience at the Ryan Centre in Stranraer were treated to a highly enjoyable concert given by The Solway Sinfonia, under the auspices of West Fest, one of the principal sponsors of the arts in Dumfries and Galloway.

The programme included Mendelssohn's Overture 'The Hebrides', written during his visit to the Highlands and Hebrides of Scotland in 1829; the delightful 'Banks of Green Willow' written by George Butterworth shortly before the first world war; Schumann's beautiful 'Cello Concerto in A minor, and Haydn's brilliant and witty Symphony No.101 in D major, otherwise known as 'The Clock', written as one of the Salomon London Symphonies in 1794.

The concert began well with the spirited playing of Mendelssohn's Hebrides overture, and Butterworth's The Banks of Green Willow' which was played with great sensitivity, especially by the woodwind.   The orchestra played the two opening works with great gusto and clearly enjoyed making music together.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Schumann 'Cello Concerto which featured the cellist Tom Rathbone, who in addition to being a soloist is also sub-principal 'cello with the BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra.  A remarkable aspect of his performance was the fact that having received an invitation to play this concerto, he learned the piece in just five weeks and played it superbly without a score.  

The programme notes explained that Schumann was not a devotee of 'virtuosi' soloist showmanship and pyrotechnics, a view he shared with his younger friend Brahms.   Schumann's concerto is subtle with great beauty, at times typically Schumannesque in its introspection, and full of passion.     These attributes were well realised by the soloist, who played the piece with his own energetic enthusiasm and commitment.   Tom Rathbone was well supported by the orchestra, whose wind, viola and 'cello sections played particularly well.

A very enjoyable evening was well rounded off with a highly enthusiastic performance of Haydn's excellent 'Clock' Symphony, whose nick-name has come about as a result of the clocklike 'tick-tock' theme and variations that form the deceptively simple second movement of the work.   It is movements such as this which well demonstrate Haydn's creative genius and inventiveness. The brilliance and swagger of the work were convincingly made evident by the conductor, confirming his own introduction of the symphony.

It was good to see so many young faces in the orchestra, and to have such a versatile ensemble right on 'our own doorstep'.    Under their Music Director and conductor, Geoffrey Keating, the orchestra were well focussed throughout, and the influence of his own superb musicianship clearly has its effect on the players.  

In his introduction of the orchestra to the audience, Geoffrey Keating mentioned the geographical extremities from which the orchestra's membership is drawn, ranging from Keswick to Whithorn.   The orchestra is made up of players who freely give of their time, and the region is highly fortunate to have them contributing so much to our cultural life.   The conductor jocularly referred to the venue in Stranraer as being situated in the 'provinces'; it is to be hoped that both he and the orchestra will return to give us more evenings of great enjoyment.

Peter Marks

March 2010

A bus, starting in Cumbria, transported orchestra members - our thanks to Lorna Strong for her superb organisation of this and to the Caldew Coaches driver.

 

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