| Overture La Forza del Destino | - | Verdi | Four Cornish Dances | - | Arnold | Piano Concerto in F major | - | Gershwin |
| Soloist - Ben Frith | Henry V Suite | - | Walton | Pomp and Circumstance March No1 in D | - | Elgar | Fantasia on British Sea Songs | - | arr Wood | Jerusalem | - | Parry |
Reviews
Early and middle period Verdi calls for little in the way of subtlety, and forthright buttressing brass gave the strings welcome support.
Gentler far, in the form of tasteful clarinet solos and sensitive harp accompaniment, also made telling contributions to the Force of Destiny Overture.
The opening of Richard Strauss's First Horn Concerto requires qualities of orchestral imagination for which a four square heavy handedness was no real substitute.
Richard Watkins' mellow and expressive solo timbres were accompanied by charming woodwind interjections in the Adagio. A rumbustious finale, with its hints of Mozart and Sullivan, completed an enjoyable performance, in which virtuosity and melodiousness were happily mingled.
Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherezade is one of the most famous of the orchestra show-pieces, and it was unreasonable to expect a sleek, well groomed account.
Yet conductor Bryan Western brought from his players touches of eastern promise in the forms of surging strings, brightly lit woodwind solos and choruses, and imperious brass summonses, all executed with commendable character, enthusiasm and urgency.
- Donald Webster