Mozart Players visit as a birthday present

The visit of the London Mozart Players on February 18 under piano-director Howard Shelley to Perth Concert Hall was an unalloyed delight.

During the entire concert you had the idea that each musician was giving of their very best.

As we found out later, this incredible atmosphere was a birthday gift. Sponsors of the orchestra, now living in Perth, had brought up the orchestra as a present – and luckily it was one in which we could share.

It started with the brilliance of Vivaldi’s Concerto RV537 for two trumpets. The high energy trumpets of Richard Martin and Peter Wright combined with the LMP’s rhythmic strings in a vivid opening Allegro. All too brief were the sustained string chords of the Largo, with somewhat overactive harpsichord, before the game of catch with expertly dovetailed phrases that was the final Allegro.

Howard Shelley then took to the piano as soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No21. This could not have received a better performance.

Its springy, witty start stylishly intrigued the ear and the second theme was the best I have heard since Annie Fischer.

Howard Shelley played his own inventive cadenza, though with long term competition from someone’s mobile phone. Woodwind chords expressing a dry humour ended the movement.

Flute, oboe and bassoon solos were finely emotional encouraged by director Howard Shelley and his beautiful piano line. The piano starred in the comic opera finale, but others had their say, too, in this vivacious finale, full of wit and fun. Recalled often to the platform Howard Shelley used his solo encore to confirm the atmosphere of love: Elgar’s Salut d’Amour.

The eponymous drumroll ushered in a fluent and grand introduction to Haydn’s Symphony No103 in E Flat, followed by a sprightly Allegro with a nice lift to the second theme.

Believing Haydn’s markings the Andante was upbeat. The LMP and Howard Shelley’s affection for Haydn and the piece came over in their clever and funny treatment of the trumpet and drums section. A dapper Minuet with delightful soft clarinet and winds in the Trio preceded the Allegro con spirito which built to splendid and dizzy heights.

Not having an encore prepared Howard Shelley rushed to the piano, now at the side of the stage, and led orchestra and audience in an enthusiastic Happy Birthday for the happy couple who had shared with us such a fantastic birthday present.