First-class night of Tchaikovsky

Tayside Symphony Orchestra played to another packed house on Saturday evening in the Reid Hall, Forfar, when they presented an all-Tchaikovsky programme, - some might say this was tremendously daring and  ambitious  considering the difficulty and complexity of the chosen pieces, but we should have known better! 

TSO has grown into a quite mature and formidable outfit in recent years, and straight from the beautifully melodic opening bars of the ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Overture, the audience was aware that the orchestra was fully committed to giving a first class performance.  All sections of the orchestra were in great form as conductor Ron Walker skilfully  led them through the atmospheric music depicting the tragic tale  of religion, street fighting, love and death.

The contrasting second piece – ‘Capriccio Italien’ – is a fantasy which was inspired by a trip to Rome by the composer during which he saw the Carnival in full swing.  This piece is full of melodies which are reminiscent of Italian folk music and street songs.  From his hotel, Tchaikovsky heard the cavalry regiment playing and he opens the piece with solo trumpets depicting a ‘bugle call.’  The pace of the music towards  the conclusion of the piece was breathtaking, with all sections of the orchestra rising admirably to the challenge.

The orchestra gave a splendid account of itself in the final work of the programme  -  Symphony No.6 in B Minor - (Pathétique).  This is an extremely complex work, ranging from the rich, harmonious sound of the chorale sections to the resounding full orchestral contributions and finally to the melancholic ending.  Under the skilful guidance of Ron Walker, this symphony was a triumph for the players and conductor alike.

It was a richly rewarding evening and another resounding achievement from an orchestra that just seems to be growing better and better.