Testimonials

A selection of extracts from reviews and feedback from our audience:

  • "Thrilling – we’re exhausted! What commitment we could not have enjoyed this evening’s concert more if we were at the RFH. Thank you."

  • "Stupendous! Marvellous ensemble playing."

  • "The concert was brilliant and exhilarating, the more so as I had not warmed to the programme initially. The Mussorgsky - so familiar - really revealed the professionalism of the HSO."

  • "Fantastic."

  • "The standard of playing is fabulous."

  • "Excellent – not aficionados of music but we really enjoyed the performance. They were serious committed musicians and the conductor was wonderful. The soloist was fantastic. Shostakovich amazing. The Shostakovich was particularly Russian in texture."

  • "A real treat for all who were privileged to be there. A triumph for all concerned."

  • "HSO's terrific performance of this intricate and difficult piece proved to be a most uplifting experience" (of Mahler 4)

  • "This was followed by two more beautifully sung Mozart arias, a rarely heard love song from Zaide and a more striking piece from Cosi fan tutte in which Miss Ramm was at her most expressive." (of Gillian Ramm who performed Mozart and Mahler with the HSO on the 14 March 2009)

  • "He [Steve Dummer] took up the idea with a vengeance on Saturday giving us a virtual masterclass on Mozart and Mahler and the workings of the violin, ancient and modern, whilst even the classy soloist, Australian born soprano Gillian Ramm, was persuaded to introduce her own pieces. We learned too how the orchestra is receiving coaching from the world renowned Hanover Band."

  • "We enjoyed an impressive performance which brought out all the best features and with lots of energy and exuberance in the finale" (of the Classical Symphony No 1 in D by Prokofiev)

  • "His (Steve Dummer's) direction throughout was enthusiastic and inspiring. He brought out the very best in his interpretation of the three well varied works."

  • "WHAT a novel and imaginative start to a concert!" (referring to the introduction by Sylvia and Peter Golden from the Horsham Folk Club to the original songs in the Vaughan Williams)

  • "His virtuoso technique was evident both in Vaughan Williams’ astonishing little cadenza and in the Elgar scherzo, and the HSO responded with some beautifully sympathetic playing." (of Oliver Coates)

  • "Conductor Stephen Dummer has an excellent way with both performers and audience"

  • "There were some memorable moments: a beautifully articulated woodwind passage in the second movement, a gripping lead-in to the fourth movement, and a finale where the excitement of the music was well and truly communicated to the packed audience."

  • In the third, scherzo-like movement, the orchestra appeared to manage with ease the complex rhythms in which the brass section was particularly effective