I have an interesting concert tomorrow in Watford 7.30pm soloist Emma Halnan BBC Young Musician Wind section winner playing Mike Mower Flute Concerto also Jack Stamp Symphony No 1, Geir Sundbo Contrasts and Eric Whitacre Godzilla Eats Las Vegas!!

Welsh Sinfonia Review 22nd March 2012

IT is always a pleasure to attend a Welsh Sinfonia concert, and this, the final concert of their 2011-12 series, was no exception.

At their third performance in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s new Dora Stoutzker Hall since its opening in 2011, the orchestra began with a traditional choice: Haydn’s Philosopher’ Symphony (No 22 in E-flat).

This proved to be a wonderful opening to what was a very varied and challenging programme.

However, the most anticipated event of the evening was the premiere of this season’s commissioned work: a collaborative venture between John Hardy (tutor of composition at the RWCMD), and three of his composition students: Chris Bond, Benjamin Frank Vaughan, and Spyros Symos.

As an annual tradition, the Welsh Sinfonia’s commitment to the commissioning of new works for chamber orchestra is highly commendable.

Entitled Night Flight, Hardy’s four-movement contribution to this piece acted as a framework within which his students could work. Having written movements one, two, three and five, Hardy explored the changing textural dynamics of the ensemble, whilst cleverly showcasing the individual skill of its members: a rare treat compared to more traditional orchestral repertoire.

The second movement, Chris Bond’s Flight 93, was a programmatic offering, throwing the listener into the tragic events of 9/11. With dramatic moments and a truly heart-wrenching final Adagio, this proved a wonderful listen.

Vaughan’s fourth movement, Into The Air, was an exceptionally well-written piece, making the most of sumptuous chord changes and the instrumentation of the ensemble.

Finally, Symos showed a mature handling of the orchestra, and the players themselves must be commended for what was a brilliant, yet technically difficult piece.

Although as a whole Night Flight felt slightly un-unified, it was a fantastic concept that proved to be the highlight of the evening. To end, the orchestra performed Schubert’s Fifth Symphony in B-flat, which brought to a close yet another superb performance by Wales’ premier chamber orchestra.

Jessica Ruth Morris

Fabulous Welsh Sinfonia concert last Thursday with many honoured guests including our patron The Earl of St Andrews. John Hardy's piece with his students went down extremely well. Thanks to all the wonderful players as well as Lucy, Tristan, Carol, Anne,  Jo and the uni girls on the door. I loved the Haydn (philosopher) and Schubert 5 too. 
Mahler 1 on Sunday 25th 3pm St. David's Hall Cardiff - see you there.

NYOW-Welsh Sinfonia (Piazzolla - Summer)

Piazzolla & Vivaldi

Friday and Saturday this week sees the Welsh Sinfonia collaborate with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in Piazzolla's Four Seasons linked with the Vivaldi classic. The Piazzolla if you don't know it is well worth a listen - jazzy, rhythmic but soulful at times too. With the NYOW's youthful exuberance, it should prove an amazing performance. Please come and see us if you can at BBC Hoddinott Hall 1-2pm Saturday.

Night Flight

Tomorrow afternoon in the Dora Stoutzker Hall, in preparation for the Welsh Sinfonia’s Season Finale, I will workshop 'Night Flight' by John Hardy, Spyros Syrmos, Chris Bond and Ben Vaughan with the Welsh Sinfonia. This promises to be a great preview for the concert which takes place March 22nd, in the presence of The Earl of St Andrews, our Patron. 
Session for RWCMD students only 2-5pm, DS Hall, RWCMD. 
Free Public Session 7-9pm, Location: St Teilos, Woodville Rd. Cardiff
Hope to see some of you there.

Welsh Sinfonia Review

Review: 29th January 2012

The Welsh Sinfonia delivered another colourful string programme under the direction of Mark Eager at the Dora Stoutzker Hall, featuring the little known Serenade in E flat, Op 6 composed by Josef Suk, alongside other influential composers; William Mathias and Antonín Dvořák.

Josef Suk is arguably better known through his compositional studies with Dvořák and the later marriage of Dvořák’s eldest daughter. Suk’s Serenade in E flat was composed at the tender age of 18 and, like the rest of works in this programme, is full of rhythmic vitality mirrored with pure serenity. The strings captured the richness and sublimity of the third movement, which was followed by the distinctively challenging virtuosic finale, which fully demonstrated the technical capabilities of the Welsh Sinfonia. Particular highlights within the work include the numerous violin solos, performed by the leader, Robin Stowell, and also the cello solo in the third movement, performed by Nick Gethin, whose passionate sound could be heard by all.

William Mathias’ Divertimento, Op 7 was an excellent choice of repertoire, placed in the thick of Czech compositions, and was most exciting. The rhythmical aspects of the work as a whole were well controlled, culminating with a further rhythmic onslaught in the final movement.

The concert concluded with Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings, Opus 22. Perhaps the most popular of the programme, it once again demonstrated the diverse capabilities of this orchestra, who handled all technical aspects of the work with great musicality. The lyrical beauty of the fourth movement was achieved through the tender treatment of the melodic line, which is strikingly different to the finale, which was full of exuberance, excitement, and was a real joy to watch.

The Welsh Sinfonia return to the Dora Stoutzker Hall for the final time this season on 22^nd March with an orchestral programme of Haydn, Schubert, and features a new commission by John Hardy.

Stephanie Richards