Vector Wellington Orchestra, Wellington Town Hall, July 24, 7.30pm, reviewed by Garth Wilshere

THE Creative New Zealand paper released this week looks at reorganising the funding it gives to the Vector Wellington Orchestra and other major arts bodies around New Zealand. Make no mistake: the future of this orchestra is at stake.
Marc Taddei has consolidated and built the orchestra over the past few years and it is now playing above and beyond what was once thought possible. Any doubts would have been firmly dispelled by the concert on Saturday night.
Beethoven’s Egmont Overture was given a solid performance.
The Rossini Barber of Seville Overture looked odd on the programme but its relevance became clear in the astonishing performance of Stravinsky’s Jeu de Cartes (Card Game), a ballet score, which liberally quotes the Rossini in its third section, and which ended the concert. This clever, quirky and interesting neo-classical score is difficult. Taddei and the orchestra captured all the rhythmic vitality in a truly top class performance.
Michael Houstoun was the featured soloist in the Schumann Piano Concerto. To be honest I’ve heard more nuanced performances from other pianists and orchestras. Houstoun’s sound was a little dry for my taste; ideal for Beethoven but more warmth and emotion are needed for Schumann. The lyrical and melodic flow often seemed to be missing. So for me, unusually from Houstoun, a disappointing performance, but he was given a warm and enthusiastic reception.
The musicians know their future is threatened and they played like their lives depended on it. It does.