Winter classic done with verve by PSO

It is always both a pleasure and an instruction to go and hear Perth Symphony Orchestra under their long time conductor Allan Young.

There you hear well loved classics, into which each player puts their whole heart and enthusiasm.

The Perth Symphony Orchestra’s November 11 concert in Perth Concert Hall began appropriately enough with an overture, Vaughan Williams’ The Wasps.

This piece spoke with openness and deep honesty of feeling: the buzzing of the strings had a nice touch of asperity from the stopped horns, the main theme had a good natured swagger.

A short solo from Leader Lorna Ian Stuart Hunter

McGovern anticipated the rolling, golden emotion of the strings in the Trio.

All were on great form with a rerun of Vaughan Williams generous tunes and the rip-roaring ebullient end.

Edinburgh-born guitarist Michael McGeary joined the orchestra for the world’s most popular guitar concerto: Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

On a miserably cold day the PSO and Michael McGeary conjured a sunny, light beflecked sound in Perth Concert Hall.

First cello Nicola Chakraverty added her own noble tone in the solo passage in the first movement and the woodwind were expert at adding their bright rhythmic interjections.

An evocative start from the soloist led to the supremely expressive cor anglais solo from Krys Hawryszczuk, taken up in sensitive duet again by the guitar.

The PSO were at their very best in this deeply felt movement. Michael McGeary had an exceptional range of colour and dynamic range, reaching an apogee in the emotion and intensity of his reading of the cadenza.

The third movement was not the happiest time for the PSO only regaining their form towards the end of the movement. To tremendous applause Michael McGeary played Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra with smoothness, sensitivity and refinement.

The blockbuster to end the concert was Dvorak’s popular Symphony No9 From the New World.

Allan Young led a performance which began with firm underpinning from cellos and double basses before a firm and authoritative first movement with power from the horns and energizing timpani. A well-supported brass introduction led to Krys Hawryszczuk’s cor anglais’ perfectly taken second chance to shine of the evening.

The entire orchestra shone in the dramatic scherzo and reached heroic in the Allegro con fuoco finale – and with fire it certainly was and cheered to the echo by the large audience.