THE orchestra played well in the first half, and got even better in the second.
In Beethoven's Overture Leonora no 3, the orchestra produced a confident performance, particularly the strings.
I am not too familiar with Schumann's Symphony No 1, The Spring, but felt the first movement somewhat ponderous at times. The second movement was played impressively, and I enjoyed it more than the finale, though Schumann aficionados in the audience enthused that this was played best of all.
The second half was tremendous starting with a sensitive performance of the Siegfried Idyll by Wagner, where again the strings excelled.
However, the piece de resistance was kept until last -Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto featuring Robert Bishop, sub-leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
The soloist gave a virtuoso performance, and the orchestra's accompaniment was spot on from start to finish. In particular Bishop's interpretation of the andante second movement was spellbinding.
He played this beautiful concerto with great feeling, the finale ending in glory for both soloist and orchestra. VJS.
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