Concert Programme and Reviews

Spring concert choice exciting and ambitious

Harrogate Symphony Orchestra's choice of Beethoven's 9th symphony (Choral) for its spring concert was both ambitious and exciting.

A full house gathered in anticipation, no doubt aware of the uniqueness of the occasion for a local venue.

In the first movement the violins were tentative, barely audible at the start but finished confidently. By the second movement scherzo however, all was going well with the opening staccato, syncopated passed, spirited and lively. This was virtuoso playing of which the orchestra and conductor Bryan Western could be justly proud. The bassoons and timpani excelled, the rest of the woodwind taking command of the second subject supported by some delicate quiet playing from the horns.

The adagio 3rd movement was slow and dreamy, even pedestrian. There was some lovely legato playing by the second violins and violas, only slightly marred by the horns towards the movement's end.

The 4th movement finale starts with a representation of chaos. Order is restored by the woodwind, followed by the string sections one after the other. The baritone soloist exhorts us in the Joy theme to raise our song of mutual friendship - the Song of European Union, no less.

The Harrogate Symphony Chorus was formed especially for this performance and is comprised largely from the Harrogate and Knaresborough choral societies.

Though brief in length, the works choral section is demanding, lying higher in the singers' registers than they are usually expected to sing. They acquitted themselves well throughout, but especially in the central section.

Their German pronunciation was excellent. A aster choral re-entry at "Freude schone" would have electrified if a riskier pace had been set, but this was a minor blemish in a satisfying performance.

As to the solo singers, the baritone slightly lost his was and his tone spread in his first phrase. The tenor was clearly unwell and was having to work hard, but thankfully he survived. The soprano was the rock on which the others depended in the lightly scored quartet prior to the hectic ending.

Bryan Western established a rapid tempo with ecstatic timpani to bring the work to its tumultuous close.

Beethoven was never able to hear a performance of this magnificent work, generally recognised as the pinnacle of symphonic writing. At its premiere in Vienna, he stood with the conductor on the rostrum overlooking the score. At the end, he was unaware of the audience reception, until one of the solo singers took him by the arm and turned him around to witness the rapturous applause. He would have been well pleased by Saturday's performance.

The four solo singers from Opera North sang operatic arias and ensembles in the first half of the concert: Victoria Sharp, soprano, Shirley Thomas (mezzo), Peter Bodenham (tenor) and Edward Thornton (baritone). Victoria Sharp was in fine voice, not only in the Beethoven symphony but in Puccini's great Tosca aria, Vissi d'Arte.

- David Ward