Our June 2022 concert was in St Gregory's in Sudbury. We knew the venue was a little small so we deliberately chose a program to suit a small venue - no lower brass or percussion apart from two timpani. Even so our orchestra filled about two thirds of St Gregory's so fitting in an audience so they could not only hear the orchestra but also get a good view was not entirely straightforward. But whatever elso you might say about St Gregory's its is seriously pretty and the acoustics are really very very good in almost any part of the building.
Our opening number of Beethoven's Coriolan Overture was a rollicking and exuberant number which we played with total commitment. The opening is really dramatic and the audience responded enthusiastically once the overture came to its quietly effective end. Our starring piece for the evening was the cor anglais concerto and our young soloist, Sam Willsmore, did us proud. The concerto (strictly a concertino as it is a reduced orchestra with no wind or brass apart from two very exposed horns) is not easy for the strings as it has a lot of subtle entries which can easily be missed. Our leader, and the two very exposed horns, visibly relaxed at the end of the piece. But it was worth it, it is a jewel of a piece for an instrument which is not used as often as it should. Sam played beautifully and the audience really enjoyed being so close to him. The evening ended with Haydn's Clock Symphony, no. 101. This is another fun piece full of musical jokes. although to be honest you have to know your music really well to spot them. But jokes or no jokes, it is great music by a really expert composer who knew exactly how to craft a symphony.
The audience and musicians really enjoyed the music in this beatiful building on a lovely warm June evening. Hopefully you were there, but if not, catch us next time!
As ever thanks to our stewards, Arthur, Colin, Barry and Margaret and to the church wardens of St Gregory's who all made sure it was a great evening's entertainment.