SSO UK

The ultimate nightmare for the concert promoter was visited upon the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra’s last concert in St Peter’s when Alexander Sitkovetsky, their internationally-acclaimed violin soloist called off on the day itself. He was fog-bound in Moscow airport!! What a disaster. The audience were about to arrive – a great number as it turned out – and there was no soloist for them to hear!! Some quick thinking and determination were needed to save the day. Fortunately it was possible to re-arrange things so that the Musical Director, Marianne Olyver – also an internationally-acclaimed violinist - became the soloist, the Leader, Geoffrey Barker, put on his conductor’s hat, and one of the first violins, Tony Hill, moved up to lead the orchestra. The result was a most moving and exciting performance of the beautiful Violin Concerto in G minor by Max Bruch. After such a nail-biting preamble, the performance was received with huge enthusiasm and warmth by a packed house.

Under Marianne’s baton, the orchestra distinguished itself in the evening’s other works by Roger Quilter, Beethoven and Brahms. A memorable evening indeed!!