Fond farewell at latest Tayside Symphony Orchestra concert

Tayside Symphony Orchestra enhanced its reputation for devising innovative programmes with a Forfar Reid Hall concert showcasing works nominated by those who attended its February performance.

In recognition of the Queen’s 90th birthday, the programme opened with Handel’s Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks, which was played in Westminster Abbey in June 1953 before the coronation service began.

The top of the audience poll was the Academic Festival Overture by Brahms and the orchestra successfully captured the amusing context of the traditional students’ songs, rising to a superb climax with the rousing Gaudeamus igitur.

The string section, accompanied by some beautifully haunting harp passages, delivered a moving performance of Mahler’s Adagietto from his Fifth Symphony and the first half of the concert concluded with Ravel’s Bolero, evoking memories of Torvill and Dean’s 1984 Olympic gold-winning ice dance performance.

The second half of the evening was devoted to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

The annual presentation of the Ron Walker bursary recognised the contribution to TSO made by trombonist Jordan Robertson and Victoria Yeung (violin), who will be studying music in Glasgow and Cardiff respectively next year.

Andrew McGarva was honoured with a presentation having decided to step down as principal conductor to relocate to Jersey.

Richard Allan has been appointed conductor and will join the orchestra for its next concert in September.