Orchestra’s enthusiasm has large crowd truly buzzing

The Perth Symphony Orchestra under long time conductor Allan Young are true amateurs in that they love what they do: each player puts their whole heart and enthusiasm into the well-loved classics they play.

Vaughan Williams’ tuneful and ebullient Overture The Wasps began their November concert in Perth Concert Hall.

Their performance had all the colour, swagger and humour with a generosity of spirit. Their wasps had the buzzing of the strings with a sting from the stopped horns.

Edinburgh-born guitarist Michael McGeary was soloist in Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

In a reading which showed sensitivity and strength, lightly miked by the Horsecross staff, he had a precise, evocative tone of clarity in lower reaches.

The adagio was a highpoint. Michael McGeary’s start, redolent of Spain, the PSO’s burnished cor anglais, played by Krys Hawryszczuk, the emotionally right orchestra and to cap it, a cadenza of feeling and intensity from the soloist.

Called back for an encore, Michael McGeary played Tarrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra with smoothness and refinement.

Dvorak’s popular Symphony No 9 From the New World was the musical giant of the evening. Allan Young directed a performance of firmness and authority.

Its first movement had powerful horns and energizing timpani. After a round toned brass introduction, the cor anglais took probably Dvorak’s most famous tune with a warm perfection.

The entire orchestra shone both in the dramatic scherzo and the colours of its softer Trio.

The Perth Symphony Orchestra reached the heroic in the allegro con fuoco finale. Blaze it certainly did and was cheered to the echo by the large audience.

Review: Ian Hunter