Technique and Flair 

Review by John Sherlock20 March 2016The Capitol, Horsham

Conductor: Steve DummerLeader: Rachel Ellis

Gershwin: Cuban OvertureArnold: English Dances Set 1 Op 27Milhaud: Scaramouche (soloist: Gerald McChrystal)Gershwin: An American in ParisHeath: The Celtic (soloist: Gerald McChrystal)Ravel: La Valse

This was an astonishing programme. HSO have proved in the past that they are skilled interpreters of the romantic repertoire. This time they offered an afternoon of 20th century music that required intense player technique and concentration.

They delivered this challenging programme superbly. In the first piece – Gershwin’s energetic Cuban Overture – we were skilfully transported to a faraway destination, with a magic woodwind sound conjuring lazy Caribbean evenings.

The Arnold brought us home again, demanding extraordinary feats from the players, who came across as highly competent and unflustered.

The charismatic saxophonist Gerard McChrystal joined us for Milhaud’s rhythmic ‘Scaramouche’ and once again the woodwind excelled, delightfully duetting with the soloist in the slow movement.

But it was perhaps after the break that things really livened up. We enjoyed a lush but polished rendering of Gershwin’s ‘American in Paris’, before Gerard came on again as soloist for Heath’s ‘The Celtic’. This time it was the orchestra’s strings that accompanied, demonstrating extraordinary partnering and musical skills, especially for the lyrical ‘Lament’.

At Steve Dummer’s skilful cue the entire auditorium clapped Gerard into playing an unscheduled but delightful Irish jig before the orchestra offered the afternoon’s finale – a performance of the Ravel’s melancholic ‘La Valse’. Once again we were transported by skilful musicianship to a dreamlike vision of a long-lost Vienna.

If only The Capitol could attend to detail as well as orchestra does. Once again auditorium lighting levels made it impossible to study the excellent programme notes. It’s a pity that poor venue management is allowed to spoil the audience’s enjoyment of such a superbly talented local orchestra.