Review: Airedale Symphony Orchestra

Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Sunday, June 26

KHACHATURIAN'S tuneful Masquerade Suite opened the Airedale Symphony Orchestra's summer concert. The stirring Waltz is perhaps the most well known of the five movements. John Anderson's dynamic presence at the helm of the ASO demonstrated that there is much else to enjoy, such as the graceful Romance with its plangent trumpet solo. The Nocturne featured orchestra leader Jacqueline Cima's immaculately phrased violin solo. There followed an ebullient Scherzo and, finally, the rhythmic energy of the Gallop with its chirpy woodwind figures.

Mozart's Bassoon Concerto in B flat K191 cast the spotlight on a player whose finely pointed contributions have been a feature of ASO concerts for more than two decades. Principal Bassoonist Rosemary Anderson showcased the full range of her instrument; she conveyed the quirky humour and the flowing lyricism of this delightful concerto.

Rachmaninov's hour-long Symphony No 2 in E minor somehow epitomises overblown 19th century romanticicism. Savage cuts to live performances and recordings of the piece were commonplace as recently as the 1970s. The ASO's performance was uncut except for the first movement exposition repeat. Delicate solo passages included a haunting oboe in the first movement Largo and the yearning theme for clarinet in the third movement Adagio. An ample string tone and shining brass chorales characterised a driven performance which faithfully conveyed the emotion and dark sonorities of this epic symphony.

The Airedale Symphony Orchestra open their new season at the King's Hall, Ilkley, on Sunday, November 13 at 3pm with music by Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky and Schumann.

by Geoffrey Mogridge