RINGING THE CHANGES AGAIN
The life of a member of Tayside Symphony Orchestra is never a dull one. Conductor Ron Walker is always keen to ring the changes and if one concert is of music by Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven you can be sure the following one will be much different.
Saturday's concert in Reid Hall, Forfar, saw anything classical given a wide musical body-swerve with conductor and orchestra concentrating on matters far more recent and popular...an evening of film music appropriately titled a ‘February Film Festival’. Their decision to use the Reid hall was a sound one. It was packed to the gunnels, (600+) , - a testament to the reputation of the TSO and the popularity of the music.
If you are a film buff even with only a slight musical leaning, this night was made for you as well- known tunes and others not so familiar came flowing out like a burn in spate. Oscars aren't normally given for musical performance but the endeavour, skill and enthusiasm of the TSO merits at least a nomination.
From the opening bars of the John Williams' Olympic Fanfare to the dwindling bars of Paul Lavender's tribute to that great man, most of the music was an in-your-face, no-holds-barred performance with only a few quiet moments peaking through the stirring music to give some light relief.
I wasn't taken with the two contributions from John Barry, Out of Africa and Dances With Wolves, although they might have been considered more familiar than other compositions on the programme. However, I though that the Gershwin American in Paris suite was first class as was Bernstein's West Side Story selection. Music like that will never die.
However, it was the music of the legendary John Williams, a living legend in film music, that gets the casting vote. His Overture to The Cowboys, one of John Wayne's last films, was superb and Paul Lavender's tribute to the composer, the last act of the evening, was paid in excellent fashion by an orchestra obviously enjoying this change from the norm.
Don't expect TSO to go back the usual routine for their next concert in June. A one-off amalgamation with Arbroath Instrumental Band sounds like another winner.