BSO Triumphs

A Grand Night!

A Great Success

BSO on TV

75 years of BSO

From the Basingstoke Gazette...

Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra Triumphs Again

On Sunday 20^th November the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra transported the Anvil’s audience away from the unusually chilly weather to hot Arabian Nights, a celebration in Russia and a calming magical world.

The performance opened with Shostakovich’s Festival Overture. This is one of Shostakovich’s more joyful pieces, opening with a majestic brass fanfare, then into broad flowing melodies with almost comical interjections. The rhythmical passages were handled with deft control, and the pizzicato string sections with energetic vigour, although I felt the allegro was slightly under pace.

Mozart’s flute and harp concerto is a truly magical piece. Joining The BSO was Victoria Davies on the harp and Hannah Grayson on the flute. The orchestra managed to adapt quickly from the brash excesses of the overture to the more refined classical tone required for this work. The orchestra balanced the soloists perfectly, allowing the audience to hear every nuance. The graceful flute passages and bubbling harp part seemed to have an almost hypnotic effect. As is often the case, Mozart provides the soloists with opportunities to show off their instruments and talents to the full. Hannah and Victoria did not disappoint, opting for three modern cadenzas by different composers in each of the three movements.  The two soloists gave an accomplished performance, and we can only look forward to great things from these young rising stars.

Scheherazade, composed by Rimsky Korsakov, was inspired by the tales of the Arabian Nights, and is every bit as expansive as the story itself.  The style of each section of the music is as diverse as the different tales. The work is held together by a recurring plaintive theme on the solo lead violin, representing Scheherazade herself, the storyteller. The talented Rebecca Totterdell fulfilled this role, giving an exquisite demonstration of her skills. Scheherazade is a piece that requires virtuoso performances from all sections of the orchestra, which the BSO provided with style. The fast rhythmic passages were both exciting and accurate. Just as Scheherazade held her husband captive with gripping stories, the BSO had us enthralled from beginning to end.

This programme would be considered ambitious by most professional orchestras. For an Amateur orchestra to pull this off with such style is really impressive. I believe that Basingstoke should be proud to have what must be one of the best amateur orchestras in the country.

Simon Haynes