AdelaideNow
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26103861-5016716,00.html
Peter Burdon
September 21, 2009 12:30am
Elder Hall @ Saturday 19 September
The Adelaide Youth Orchestra rounded off a successful 2009 concert series with an ambitious program that, if not perfect in the execution, sets a new and pleasingly high benchmark. Berlioz’ Le carnival romain overture is full of fine tunes and good for a youth ensemble, giving as it does a few seconds of fame to practically every instrument.
A lively `saltarello’ dance theme dominates much of the piece, and well done to cor anglais player Joshua Oates, entrusted with an especially memorable passage.
Debate rages about whether Mozart really liked his Flute Concerto in G Major, and it can fairly be said that the level of inspiration in the piece is at times routine, but what a showpiece for the soloist! Flautist Anna Cooper was brilliant, whether in the many fast and technically furious passages, or in the lyrical, dreamy Adagio.
The Adelaide Youth Orchestra rounded off a successful 2009 concert series with an ambitious program that, if not perfect in the execution, sets a new and pleasingly high benchmark. Berlioz’ Le carnival romain overture is full of fine tunes and good for a youth ensemble, giving as it does a few seconds of fame to practically every instrument.
Conductor Keith Crellin tried valiantly, and successfully for the most part, to keep the youthful enthusiasm in check in Smetana’s Ma Vlast. The first three movements were performed. “Vysehrad” is another number that shares the wealth around, with its rich opening chords on the harp democratically passed around. The well-known “Vltava” had more than a few humming along to its famous tune. The band rather overdid itself here, and though the third and final piece, “Sarka”, started thrillingly, the concentration waned and the assembled men of Czechoslovakia were safe from the Amazons, at least on this occasion.