A Night to remember

Last Night Of The Proms, Manawatu¯ Sinfonia, September 7, Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North. Reviewed by Malcolm Hopwood.

The Manawatu Sinfonia’s Last Night Of The Proms was one of the most memorable I’ve experienced since this enjoyable and jingoistic end-of-season concert was reintroduced to New Zealand about 30 years ago.

A large and enthusiastic audience waved flags, blew hooters and hoped the sun would never set on the empire.

Most of the music was overfamiliar but Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2 stood out as a work of character and passion. It’s my favourite. Piano soloist, Andrew Atkins, played it with great sensitivity.

The Sinfonia was impressive. Their playing was assured and, with the Rachmaninov, they demonstrated a willingness to attempt greatness. There was some fine interaction between flute, clarinet and orchestra.

Conductor Tim Jones kept firm control of the sinfonia. His style of conducting is flamboyant and vigorous. At times, when he left the stage, I’m sure it was to reattach his arm.

Suppe’s Light Cavalry Overture might have been light on cavalry but grabbed the audience and sustained them throughout the concert.

In the second half, Holst’s

Mars was noisy and they laboured a little with Elgar’s

Pomp And Circumstance but then we were ready to sing, blow our hooters in E flat and die for the Queen.

Soprano soloist Shayna Tweed gave a bubbly performance of the

Laughing Song by Strauss but her Mimi from La Boheme when she discloses a snapshot of her life to Rodolfo, was beautiful. She’s a Puccini singer.

The Manawatu¯ Sinfonia can be proud of their performance.