From the Dundee Courier 29 September 2008
Continuing a Special Tradition
There is something special about Tayside Symphony Orchestra’s concerts in the Reid Hall, Forfar. These events always seem to manage to pack the hall and the support obtained from those who faithfully attend is encouraging.
The audience were well rewarded on Saturday night by a strictly classical programme. Conducted by Ron Walker, the evening started with Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture which warmed things up nicely, though the fortissimo passages were somewhat overpowering in the small space of that hall. After all this was Schubert, not Mahler or Tchaikovsky!
One of TSO’s players, Claire Forgan was soloist in Mozart’s 1st flute concerto. The orchestral introduction was a little unsteady, but once the soloist came in, all was well. The soloist at all times produced a lovely sound, and she managed to execute the many tricky sections with ease, including cadenzas in the first two movements. The finale ran along in delightful style, with interplay between flute and orchestra finely controlled.
Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony is one of the staples in the repertoire and is a trial for any orchestra, especially an amateur one. Clearly a great deal of work had been put into this, and the result was on the whole of a very high standard. There were one or two moments of anxiety – but these were more than compensated by the sheer energy which the players put into their performance.
I thought the scherzo a little ponderous, but when the trio arrived, the horn section acquitted itself particularly well. The finale was very well judged, the many changes of tempo here were no problem to conductor or orchestra. All in all, a very fine concert and one in which TSO can be justifiably proud.
John Brush