Happy New Year! And what a way to start the 2025 MCCS with an outstanding performance from the evergreen Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, with their Viennese Extravaganza. BSO really are quite superb, whether it be the collective precision of ensemble, the silky string sound (vibrato abundant and a luscious cello solo or two), or the subtlety and awareness of the brass and percussion not to overplay in the ‘shallow’ Memorial Hall.
One might imagine a popular programme such as this is easy to play. It is not. Light classics are notoriously tricky and to steer the orchestra through those choppy waters you ned a fine conductor at the helm. Maestro Tom Fetherstonhaugh was the perfect champion in this respect, displaying terrific energy and control throughout. It didn’t ever feel ‘ordinary’, but constantly brimming with colour and dynamic contrast, offering as a consequence tremendous vigour and spirit.
How wonderful, then, that a packed memorial Hall was able to witness such a fabulous spectacle to lighten the gloom of a cold January day and herald a new year of hope, good health and prosperity.
We look forward to Red Priest on Sunday 2nd February, and Sinfonia Smith Square on Sunday 3rd March……Happy days!
Philip Dukes FGSM HonARAM
Artistic Director