Frome Symphony

As a taster for the Orchestra's next Concert on March 17th, which features the rarely-performed but powerful and interesting Symphony No 1 by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931), here is American conductor Alan Gilbert talking about the Symphony, and a performance of the first movement.

Frome Symphony is/are back in rehearsal after the summer break, working on the music for the Concert on December 3, and raring to go!  Here to whet the appetite are extracts from the programme:

Very gratifying for the Orchestra to see such a positive review in this week's Somerset Standard:


Local ensemble entertains 200 strong audience

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Nothing builds excitement and anticipation of your forthcoming performance of Tchaikovsky's towering Fifth Symphony like posting a video of Leonard Bernstein conducting its finale on your facebook profile.

It goes without saying that this post from Frome Symphony whetted appetites, and what a magnificent, rich and full Frome Symphony it was that greeted guests in the acoustically ideal St John's Church.

It was clear from the packed venue that more than 200 showed eager anticipation.

From the opening of Verdi's Overture La Forza del destino, it was clear that the wind and brass players were committed to a homogeneity of attack and intonation that was maintained with great focus for the whole performance.

The captivating delicacy of the string sound at times in both this opening piece and in Copland's Down A Country Lane became vibrant richness in Piazzolla's remarkable Concerto for Guitar, BandoneonandString Orchestra. What a privilege to be introduced not only to the infectious dance rhythms and harmonic intoxication of this piece but also to an unfamiliar instrument, the bandoneon, the deep and lyrical expressive range of which came to life effortlessly in the hands of Julian Rowlands, complemented by the sensitive cantabile guitar playing of Adam Khan.

As the glorious tour de force, the Tchaikovsky did not disappoint but rather maintained its spell-binding sweep from beginning to end.

Never before has Frome Symphony appeared so committed, balanced, technically adept and musically soaring, and great credit must go to musical director Mark Gateshill for drawing together such exciting and joyful musical expression from the diverse, utterly engaging and enduringly popular Frome ensemble.

Frome Symphony is now looking forward to its 10th anniversary season, for which rehearsals start in September.

The programme includes symphonies by Sibelius, Nielsen and Vaughan Williams, and the next concert will include a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, performed by the brilliant young soloist Lukas Hank.

Stephen Marquiss