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The Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra
NOTTINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA,
Trent College, Peter Palmer Nottingham Evening Post
>
> Bridging the usual gap between the first and second full-scale
> concerts of the NPO season, last night's Long Eaton event provided a
> treat for several reasons.
> Firstly, it gave the musicians a chance to shine in masterworks from
> the 18th century. Smaller-scale pieces were the norm in the
> orchestra's early years as the Nottingham Sinfonietta. But more
> recently, there have been fewer chances to hear this repertoire in really top-notch performances.
> And top-notch applies to all the NPO's current playing under conductor
> Mark Heron. In movements from Mozart's Serenade (KV 361), a lone
> double bass joined the prescribed wind instruments, including a pair
> of period basset horns.
> The imposing initial Largo and a soulful Adagio – featured in Joseph
> Losey's film Amadeus – were richly characterised. A set of variations
> glinted and sparkled, and not a trick was missed in the final rondo.
> Led by Peter Bolton, the NPO strings had a major stake in most of the
> evening. Alison Madin, the orchestra's principal flautist, offered
> ethereal solo lyricism in the Dance of the Blessed Spirits from
> Gluck's opera Orfeo.
> Guest keyboard player Philip Millward, seated at a 2-manual organ he's
> very familiar with, created light and shade and stylish ornamentation
> in Handel's Organ Concerto in A major, opus 7 No. 2.
> Later, the two soloists combined elegantly – and to entertaining
> effect – in a Vivaldi concerto (RV 541), the flute a persuasive
> replacement for the original score's solo violin.
> There was surprisingly little reverberation in the magnificent Trent
> College Chapel. As a result, the exuberant polyphony of Mozart's last
> symphony, the “Jupiter”, could be projected with pristine clarity. And
> here, with unfailing precision and huge vitality, the NPO demonstrated
> the human spirit triumphing against all the odds.
"This orchestra is one of the city's best kept secrets. Their skills, dedication and responsiveness to young music director Mark Heron made Sibelius' Second Symphony a thrilling experience." Nottingham Evening Post
"Stamina and all-round finesse were united in the Nottingham Phil's gripping performance of Carl Nielsen's Fourth Symphony (“Inextinguishable”). A folk-like woodwind movement offered respite from various dramatic upheavals. The mood darkened for a mighty battle of two timpanists, before the triumph of the radiant home key." Nottingham Evening Post
"The most substantial work was the Symphonic Dances from Bernstein's West Side Story. There aren't many pieces of music which pack more life-enhancing pizzazz into 20 minutes and the NPO, under its energetic and versatile conductor Mark Heron, gave such a fizzing, virtuosic account that the audience burst into applause before the conclusion." Nottingham Evening Post
"NPO, a jewel in the region." Nottingham Evening
Post
"Nottingham is fortunate to have a home-grown orchestra
of such calibre." Nottingham Evening Post
"It is good to see the Nottingham Philharmonic so firmly
maintaining its premier league status." Nottingham
Evening Post
"Another musical triumph for the NPO at Southwell."
Mansfield Chronicle
"Readers of this column will be well used to the orchestra's
high standards being praised. This concert was another in a long
line of major achievements." Nottingham Evening Post
"This was a barnstorming performance...it deserved and
earned the highest acclaim. Mr Murphy's band does the city proud."
Newark Advertiser
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