To celebrate 70 years of junior and youth music making, Stockport youth Orchestra had invited former members back for this special concert ameliorating the orchestra with adults playing alongside some very young children indeed. Some did not even look to have been any older than 10.
The concert started with the orchestra playing a fanfare written by its conductor, Tim Crooks, especially for this occasion. We then heard them play ravel's hauntingly beautiful 'Pavane Pour Une Enfante Defunte'. This was lyrical, tuneful and nicely marked. The first half ended with the more substantial 'Sea Pictures' by Elgar. We heard all five of his songs this evening sung by local mezzo-soprano Lorna Day. Her diction was superb as indeed was her control and emoting of the songs. sadly however, we perhaps needed her to be mic'd since much of what she was singing would have been lost further back than row 3!
After the interval, and we were in Latin American dance mode! The opening was a set of dances from 'Estancia' by Ginastera. Composed in the mid 1900s, American Ginastera took his influences from Argentina and these dances reflected his passion for his heimat. the concert finished with yet another Latin American, this time by Mexican composer, Marquez and his energetic and flamboyant Danzon 2.
Stockport Youth Orchestra gave an excellent concert, and considering the tender ages of these players, they did remarkably well. It was a passionate, controlled, tuneful, lyrical, and dramatic concert and was highly enjoyable.
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 22.3.26
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