THE Orchestra of Opera North's annual New Year concert traditionally features the dance music and operettas of 19th Century imperial Vienna. This year's concert was enlivened by the sparkling presence on the podium of Opera North music director Aleksandar Markovic. The Serbian maestro was elegantly attired in a custom designed vanilla coloured suit with frock coat.

Markovic certainly believes in refreshing traditional programmes with rarely heard orchestral and vocal gems. The conductor's witty and informative introductions cast the music that we were about to hear in a new light, as if he was talking to his orchestra during rehearsal. Johannn Strauss's delightful Overture to Indigo and the Forty Thieves made me wonder why this lively piece with its seductive waltz-like theme is so rarely played. This paved the way for the vocal soloists; an unusual combination (for these concerts) of both soprano and mezzo soprano voices. Du solst Kaiser meiner Seele sein (You will be Emporer of my soul) from the Robert Stolz operetta Der Favorit was charmingly sung by mezzo Heather Lowe. Soprano Ellie Laugharne nailed the high notes of Hor ich Zigeunergeigen from Kalman's Grafin Mariza with seductive gypsy abandon. Their voices blended deliciously in the famous Barcarolle from Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffman played as a precursor to the high-kicking Overture Orpheus in the Underworld.

The vocal highlight for this reviewer was a scene from Richard Strauss's Opera Ariadne auf Naxos whose ravishing duet Ein Augenblick ist wenig (a glimpse is short) was followed by the number known as the Composer's Aria.

Among the less familiar orchestral pieces played, Josef Strauss' sumptuously symphonic Delirien Waltz was vividly brought to life by Markovic who coaxed the strings into a sort of fevered ecstasy. The percussion department had great fun in the fast Polkas, Friekugeln by Johann Strauss ll, and the Sport-Polka schnell by Josef Strauss. Two more operetta rarities included the waltz song from Die Tanzerin Fanny Elssler (The Dancer Fanny Elssler) by Johann Strauss ll, and from Franz Lehar's Zigeunerliebe, the dazzling Czardas. Johann's immortal Blue Danube Waltz and the Radetzky March by Father Strauss brought the occasion to a rousing conclusion in the grand traditional manner. Aleksandar Markovic demonstrated his magisterial command of both audience and Orchestra.

Geoffrey Mogridge