This concert was was more than just a performance of Classical music; it was a musical journey down the Danube, recreating the various cultures and spirit of each city - but all from the intimate surroundings of a university concert hall in Manchester!
The Lancashire Sinfonietta, directed by Violin virtuoso, Bradley Creswick, were joined by Hungarian Cimbalom player, Kalman Balogh and tenor, Alfie Boe. Together they delighted the audience with many wonderful pieces that captured the spirit and essence of each of the places in which tonight's music was composed.
The relatively small concert hall made for an intimate and relaxed gathering and with only four small ceiling microphones, you were able to fully appreciate the clear sounds and sharp tones of the orchestra as the audience were taken on a musical journey through Linz, Vienna,Budapest and Hungary.
Bradley Creswick excelled not just in leading the orchestra but also in his performance of Dinicu's 'The Lark'. His playing clearly imitated the sounds of the bird and delighted the audience as they watched his bow fly over the strings of his violin in this and the preceeding number, Hubay's 'Hejre Kati'.
Kalman Balogh added to the feel of the hungarian music with his energentic playing of the cimbalom. This was not an instrument I had been familiar with before, but it's unique and distinct sound really added to the gypsy spirit of the pieces and proved very popular with the audience.
No trip taking in the 'Delights of the Danube' would be complete without reference to some Strauss and as the orchestra most fittingly played Op.314 by Johann Strauss, The Beautiful Blue Danube, you found yourself swaying along in time to the music - hopefully thinking of a waltz and not because of feeling seasick from our journey!
Alfie Boe proved to be, as the song says "Mein Ganzes Herz" (my heart's delight) of the evening. Taking his turn at being our musical tour guide for a while, Alfie delighted the audience with pieces from Mozart, Schubert and Lehar before completing our journey with the popular Stranger in Paradise from Kismet. He sang with great feeling and expression which reflected the beauty of each piece and the spirit of the time the piece was written.
Alfie's enjoyment of the concert was also visible in his performance and whilst no formal introductions were made of each piece, Alfie did interact with the audience and orchestra in small ways, which added to the enjoyment of the evening.
This classical concert had something for everyone to enjoy from opera, waltzes, serenades and operettas written by some of the great classical composers and performed by some of the great artists of our time. This concert was a delight in many ways.
Programme:
Symphony No.36 'Linz' K.425 - W.A.Mozart
Dalla sua pace (Don Giovanni) - W.A.Mozart
Vienna, city of my dream - Rudolf Sieczynski
The Beautiful Blue Danube Op.314 - Johann Strauss
Standchen - Serenade - Franz Schubert
Interval
Divertimento - Bela Bartok
Dein is mein Ganzes Herz - Franz Lehar
Hejre Kati (Pretty Katy) - Jeno Hubay
The Lark - Grigorias Dinicu
Stranger in Paradise (Kismet) - Alexander Borodin
