Too many extras
Garth Wilshere
Wellington Youth Orchestra, Conductor - Greg Squire, Sacred Heart Cathedral August 8. NZ School of Music Chamber Orchestra , Conductor - Kenneth Young, Soloist - Reuben Chin, St Andrew’s on The Terrace August 13. Reviewed by Garth Wilshere.
I had concerns about the indulgence of the music directors in their choice of repertoire as both concerts required a significant number of guest players. How could these be “youth orchestra” performances when clearly they were not. The NZSM orchestra was augmented by 13 extra players out of total of only 42 players. I look forward to hearing the NZSO New Zealand Youth Orchestra which at least will truly be a youth orchestra consisting young players.
For the WYO, despite the extras the playing was generally on the rustic, coarse side and in what appeared to be a hastily put together printed programme there was no orchestra list at all.
The Brahms Academic Festival Overture was rousing enough, the strings in Fauré’s Pavane were attractive. The Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre though still missing a few instruments was spirited. The final Sibelius Symphony No. 2, which over the years has frequently been done by the WYO and others, wasn’t in any way memorable.
The NZSM Orchestra opened with the attractive arrangement of Two Bruckner Motets for trombones, well played from the organ loft behind us, also recently done by The NZSO Brass in their concert.
This concert featured the winners of NZSM composer and concerto competitions with composer Grayson Gilmour’s Existence – Aether 1 an intriguing work with movement and constant travel in the sinuous musical phrases. An interesting listen and a piece I want to hear again.
Brazilian dance and South American rhythms and folksong influences, with also a jazzy 1920s feel in some of Milhaud’s Saudades do Brazil, which were played with quirky fun.
Reuben Chin has a mellow, eloquent sound on his alto saxophone in a beautifully phrased and played performance of Pierre Max Dubois’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, sweet sounds to the ear, with his engaging playing definitely showing him to be a worthy competition winner.
The final work, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 received a crisp fresh reading, with good rhythmic drive, as would expected given that NZSO timpanist Larry Reece was playing.
I had concerns about the indulgence of the music directors in their choice of repertoire as both concerts required a significant number of guest players. How could these be “youth orchestra” performances when clearly they were not. The NZSM orchestra was augmented by 13 extra players out of total of only 42 players. I look forward to hearing the NZSO New Zealand Youth Orchestra which at least will truly be a youth orchestra consisting young players.
For the WYO, despite the extras the playing was generally on the rustic, coarse side and in what appeared to be a hastily put together printed programme there was no orchestra list at all.
The Brahms Academic Festival Overture was rousing enough, the strings in Fauré’s Pavane were attractive. The Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre though still missing a few instruments was spirited. The final Sibelius Symphony No. 2, which over the years has frequently been done by the WYO and others, wasn’t in any way memorable.
The NZSM Orchestra opened with the attractive arrangement of Two Bruckner Motets for trombones, well played from the organ loft behind us, also recently done by The NZSO Brass in their concert.
This concert featured the winners of NZSM composer and concerto competitions with composer Grayson Gilmour’s Existence – Aether 1 an intriguing work with movement and constant travel in the sinuous musical phrases. An interesting listen and a piece I want to hear again.
Brazilian dance and South American rhythms and folksong influences, with also a jazzy 1920s feel in some of Milhaud’s Saudades do Brazil, which were played with quirky fun.
Reuben Chin has a mellow, eloquent sound on his alto saxophone in a beautifully phrased and played performance of Pierre Max Dubois’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, sweet sounds to the ear, with his engaging playing definitely showing him to be a worthy competition winner.
The final work, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 received a crisp fresh reading, with good rhythmic drive, as would expected given that NZSO timpanist Larry Reece was playing.
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