Classical Spectacular

First Direct Arena, Leeds

Audiences for live orchestral music would appear to be in the rudest health on the evidence of this Raymond Gubbay Classical Spectacular. Gubbay's winning format transforms performances of some of the best known classics, combined with choreographed displays of laser lighting, into a thrilling audio visual experience. 10,000 people of all ages packed the amphitheatre-like arena. They enthusiastically clapped in rhythm with the Can-Can, swayed in time to Ravel's Bolero, sang the verses of Parry's Jerusalem and turned the vast auditorium into an ocean of fluttering union flags for Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

The Orchestra of Opera North and Leeds Festival Chorus were augmented, for the Grand March from Verdi's Aida, by the fanfare trumpeters of the King's Division resplendent in their scarlet and gold braid ceremonial uniforms. Jae Alexander conducted with gusto; he was also the amiable and witty master of ceremonies.

My sole carp concerns the excessive amplification. Only in the beautiful fading notes of Puccini's O suave fanciulla, as soprano Catrin Aur and tenor Marc Heller walked up-stage out of range of their microphones, did we catch the sound of the natural acoustic. Heller's big tenor voice certainly didn't need this level of amplification for Puccini's Nessun Dorma and I think that Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture could have probably managed without any amplification at all. This stirring music was embellished by a truly amazing indoor firework display. Real cannons thundered away from either side of the stage and the rarely heard choral finale was powerfully articulated by the Festival Chorus.

Britain's Got Talent finalists Richard and Adam Johnson made an all-too brief appearance with O solo Mio, as well as leading the singing of Jerusalem. Durham Marenghi and Alex Passmore respectively designed and programmed the lasers and fireworks that added such an exciting dimension to the event. A very happy audience streamed into the cold November night; I've a hunch that Classical Spectacular is likely to become a popular annual fixture at the FDA.

Geoffrey Mogridge