Marko takes control in style

ROMEO RETOLD 70th Anniversary Concert Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Marko Letonja, conductor Federation Concert Hall, Hobart October 10

AN augmented TSO celebrated its first 70 years in fine style with a big program themed around Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Marko Letonja was in commanding form directing his last symphonic concert as chief conductor and artistic director in works by Tchaikovsky, Bernstein and Prokofiev.

His farewell appearance with the orchestra will be a concert performance of Gounod’s opera on the same subject next Saturday.

Letonja’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet

— Fantasy Overture started with a measured, steady tempo, really firing up at the first passage depicting the feuding Montagues and Capulets.

Orchestral standards were high throughout, with some superb brass playing.

Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story was thrilling indeed, the percussion having a field day.

The spectacle and drama of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet ballet score in excerpts from the two concert suites was also most winningly conveyed.

The only fly in the ointment for such a generally loud program was an awareness of the hall’s acoustic limitations, with a lack of bloom and dynamic expansion to the sound at high volume levels.

The orchestra has many things to celebrate, being in a healthy financial position under the stewardship of soon-toretire managing director Nicholas Heyward that is the envy of some of the country’s major interstate orchestras.

Morale is high, with new occupants of key positions of chief conductor, principal guest conductor, associate conductor, and a replacement managing director having all been appointed.

Letonja himself will make welcome return visits as conductor laureate.

Here’s to the next 70 years!