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CONCERTS
Recent Past Concerts Saturday
28th February 2015 - The Romantics
Sunday
16th November 2014 - First World War Reflections
"PSO's
Armistice Day concert is a fine tribute" Perthshire Advertiser
Saturday
1st March 2014 - 60th Anniversary Concert The
day started with a mention of the concert on classic FM which resulted
in
Fanfare
for the Common Man - Copland "Perth
Symphony Orchestra Celebrated their 60th Anniversary in splendid style..."
Perthshire Advertiser "...the
performance was of their customary excellence." Dundee Courier
Saturday
16th November 2013 - Russian Festival Evening
Festival
Overture - Shostakovich "It
is always a pleasure to go to a Perth Symphony Orchestra concert.
Sunday
17th February 2013 - Strictly Stage and Screen
Tchaikovsky
- Nutcracker Suite (excerpts) Various
(arr. Strommen) - Salute to the Cinema "What
a magical night of music" Perthshire
Advertiser
Saturday
10th November 2012
Rossini
- Overture The Italian Girl in Algiers "Ben's
peerless technique and phenomenal articulation allowed every note and
gesture to speak directly." Perthshire Advertiser
26th
February 2012 - Spring Concert
Dvorak
- In Nature's Realm (Overture) "A
rarity with a superb soloist was Nielsen's Flute Concerto. Katherine
Bryan is principal flute with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
and she embodied the character of Nielsen's solo perfectly" Dundee
Courier "Brahms
Symphony No 3 surged magnificently into view with noble horns and full
voiced strings and the woodwind glowed in the second theme" Perthshire
Advertiser
19th
November 2011 - Fantasia Family Concert
Dukas
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice "Perth
Symphony Orchestra has done much sterling work in interesting young
people in classical music. Saturday evening in Perth Concert Hall was
a prime successful example of this ..." Dundee Courier "The
Dukas had been finely introduced by Terry Wale who played a greater
part in Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals, introducing each section
in witty verse largely concentrating on paradox. In a much smaller orchestra
there was the addition of a piano duet, the two pianos brilliantly and,
in the case of the strange species of pianists, uproariously played
by Gordon Murch and Martin Neilson." Perthshire Advertiser
19th
February 2011 - Spring Concert Wagner
- Siegfried Idyll
"Perth
Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Allan Young, began their concert
in Perth Concert Hall with a performance of great charm of Wagner's
Siegfried Idyll, writes a music critic. ... Lawrence O'Donnell played
with aplomb and the PSO accompanied with fine Mozartian Style. Their
muted strings gave a silvery sheen to the flowing andante, where the
soloist enjoyed his cantabile part. The O'Donnell bassoon had its showcase
in the episodes of the rondo-minuet finale, following Mozart's encouragement
to ever greater virtuosity. ... he and the orchestra received great
applause. ... The most telling performance was Dvorak's Symphony No.
6 in D major. Launched with warmth and affection, the first movement
grew to a tremdendous performance, culminating in the powerful coda.
... It was glorious playing, well appreciated by the large audience
in Perth Concert Hall." "There
is an old witticism which claims the Czech composer Dvorak only wrote
three symphonies - No.7, No.8 and No.9. The audience at the Perth Symphony
Orchestra concert will now be able to add a fourth - and in a truly
triumphant performance - No.6. ... the PSO changed its style to Mozart
with finesse. Setting a good alert Allegro, Allan Young was attentive
to Lawrence O'Donnell as the personable and stylish soloist in Mozart's
Bassoon Concerto in Bb K191. The Rondo finale opened with a repeating,
lively, rhythmic minuet from the strings. Lawrence's bassoon had its
showcase in the intervening episodes, Mozart encouraging him to ever
greater feats. ... Allan Young launched Dvorak's Symphony No.6 in D
major at a warmly flowing Allegro and even as early as the ff antiphonal
exchanges between strings and brass it was obvious that a super performance
was unfolding. ... Allan Young was called back repeatedly by a large,
delighted audience, who also gave leader Lorna McGovern thoroughly deserved
extra applause."
20th
November 2010 - Autumn Concert
"St
Ninian's Cathedral was the venue for PSO's Autumn Concert complete with
a programme of music ranging from the baroque to the 20th century, taking
advantage of the grand acoustics of the building. Allan Young selected
Handel's grandiose Music for the Royal Fireworks to open. .... The slow
opening of the overture had regal pomp with the high trumpets playing
with precision and flair and the following allegro was vibrant with
the impetus maintained by the orchestra throughout. ... this was a splendid
rendition of this triumphal piece. ... Barber's gentle and nostalgic
piece, with a text by James Agee, tells of a young boy's lost dreams
in a day from a bygone way of life. Natalie's crystal clear voice captured
perfectly the youthful charm and reflections of the boy's dreams with
it's urban reflections. She sang with great authority in the complex
harmonies and rhythms and her diction was always clearly audible. Allan
Young ensured the PSO kept under the soloist, particularly in the agitated
central section, and when the setting returned to the opening serene
mood - when the boy is taken to bed - the work ended as it began, calm
and tranquil. Natalie Montakhab is a new soprano to watch with a voice
that is both refined and refreshing. ... The final work was Schubert's
Symphony No 4 in C minor.....The first movement has a stern and imposing
introduction before a lighter allegro sets the pace and here the violins,
led with gusto by Lorna McGovern, created good momentum thoughout. The
development had some delightful contrasting moments, with the woodwind
playing charming and effective phrases... The andante is typical of
Schubert's great outpouring of melody in a wonderful stream of emotion...the
orchestra played with heartfelt longing to bring a real yearning in
the themes....the energetic Finale brought the work to a satisfying
conclusion and another very satisfying concert with Allan Young and
the PSO" "The
Perth Symphony Orchestra's Saturday night concert was in a well-filled
venue new to them - St Ninian's Cathedral... Under the lively direction
of Allan Young the trumpet and drums of Handel's Royal Fireworks caught
the acoustic brilliantly, as did the sonorous strings in the slow middle
of the overture. It was what Handel woul have called 'a grand noyse'
and was much appreciated by the audience...Soloist soprano Natalie Montakhab
was enthuiastically received in Barber's Knoxville, Summer of 1915.
She had the timbre to put over a child's view of an evening in the garden...Schubert's
fourth symphony is given the subtitle Tragic - this it is not, but it
does have drama as brought out by Young.... the scherzo third movement
had robust playing at lively speed with the woodwind carrying the trio
in a characterful way. Young brought the PSO to a fine climax and a
blazing end, to the delight of the audience."
27th
February 2010 - Spring Concert
"Arriving
at Perth concert Hall on Saturday Evening, it was a pleasure to see
the foyer packed for the Perth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) under their
expressive conductor Allan Young. ... Further the large audience enjoyed
their experience as the spontaneous applause after each of the movements
showed. ... The PSO opened with two movements from Robert W. Smith's
Symphony, The Divine Comedy ... The whole PSO were on super form, playing
a work none of them can of heard before with panache and aplomb. ...The
PSO were joined by a Children's Chorus (from Viewlands Primary) and
the Queen symphony Chorus for the second half. The committed playing
of everyone deserved the thunderous applause which erupted from the
full hall." Dundee Courier "Perth
Symphony Orchestra donned a modern and ambitious cloak for its very
well attended Spring Concert. .... The orchestra under conductor Allan
Young, rose to the challenges of these complex pieces..... Highlights
included the third movement's expressive playing of Who Wants to Live
Forever? by lead violin Lorna McGovern and first cello Angela Dagpunar;the
powerful Killer Queen of movement; the bicycle race percussion; and
the grandiose of the final movement which wove together three of Queen's
best-knnown hits - Bohemian Rhapsody, Who Wants to Live forever and
We Are The Champions. PSO and the choristers certainly were champions
of the night..." Perthshire Advertiser
21st November 2009 - Autumn Concert Dvorak
- Carnival Overture
"Emotional playing from PSO ... Despite the weather the audience at Perth Concert Hall held up well, and were rewarded with a good first half and a brilliant second ... Good though the first half was it lacked the brilliance of the playing of Borodin's Symphony No. 2. ... From the trenchant violin opening to beguiling cellos, the orchestra played with remarkable tone. The bubbling scherzo showed brilliant colour - the scene set by the lyrical clarinet and horn solos had the PSO giving a masterclass in emotional playing. The wonderfully exciting finale drove off away all thought of the dreadful rain. " Dundee Courier "The goodly numbers who turned out for Saturday's Perth Symphony Orchestra concert under the direction of their conductor Allan Young heard a heartwarming and colourful selection of orchestral fireworks. Giving its nature away by its title, they began with Dvorak's Carnival Overture. With Lorna Mcgovern as leader it was a pleasure to hear the violins in passages of clarity and accuracy, which are too often garbled in the name of speed and generalised effect... Equally popular with the audience was Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, whose sonorous opening was given with full weight and tone... If the first half can be accredited with good musical performances this paled before the colourful magnificence of PSO's interpretation of Borodin's Symphony No. 2. It was obviously loved by conductor Allan Young.... The orchestra showed real conviciton and played with remeakable full tone. This was as fine a performance of the work as I have heard live...." Perthshire Advertiser
28th
February 2009 - Spring Family Concert Gaukroger
and Carr - Romany Wood
"Not only was Saturday's Perth Symphony Orchestra Family Concert at Perth Concert Hall a total sell-out but there was a queue at the box office for returns. The public's expectations were totally fulfilled in a wonderful concert given under the direction of conductor Allan Young. PSO's opener perhaps accounted for some of the interest in that it was a preformance of Romany Wood, a relatively new work by David Carr and David Gaukroger for a chorus of more than 200 primary aged children, narrator and orchestra. As narrator, Roger Quick was excellent in his uncle Mac-like roll. The children played their part with joy and enthuiasm and also stayed for the second half. Their cheers for Allan Young and the PSO were most noticable. The PSO were in super form, playing what must have been a new work to them with the smoothness and aplomb of professionals and leader Lorna McGoven assumed her various guises with ease... The suite from Kodaly's folk opera Hary Janos was no less a success...the Britten Purcell Variations of as it is also known The Young Person's Guide to the orchestra gave wonderful opportunities to all the instruments. Allan Young gave all his players their moments in the limelight in a beautifully judged performance...Hopefully the children will come away from this realising how much fun and enjoyment there is in music." Dundee Courier "Perth Symphony Orchestra presented a family concert that incorporated a choir of 250 children formed from local primary schools. The hall's platform was filled to capacity...for a programme orientated to younger listeners but thoroughly enjoyed by the capacity audience of both young and the not so young. the main work in the concert was the Scottish premiere of a new musical for full symphony orchestra, children's chorus and narrator...Romany Wood. the huge children's chorus was very well versed in their text - no books required - and their diction was excellent. They showed good dicipline with their standing and sitting and their overall standard of performance was first class - congratulation to all their teachers, and mentors, Perth and Kinross Youth Music Initiative and conductor Allan Young for the tremendous work in getting this huge undertaking performed." Perthshire Advertiser
23rd
November 2008 - Autumn Concert Verdi
- Overture Nabucco
"A personable player, Michael gave the Marcello concerto a vivid performance making the work fresh and full of character. The lovely theme of the first movement was beautifully shaped and the phrasing let the music develop without feeling hurried. Michael played the exquisite adagio with real poignancy as the strings accompanied with repeated legato notes that gave the movement a spacial and melancholic quality. The final, and most well known movement was played with joyful brilliance and delicacy, Michael tackling all the technical demands with vigour and virtuosity. This was a superb performance from a very fine young musician and again demonstrates the wonderful talent that has been nurtured in Perthshire" Perthshire Advertiser "Sunday evening saw a large audience in Perth Concert Hall for another impressive concert by the Perth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of their conductor Allan Young. Their opener was a rousing performance of Verdi's Overture to his opera Nabucco - an exciting start...Sophistication was there in full measure for the subtle shadings of Butterworth's Rhapsody, A Shropshire Lad.The difficult divisi strings opening came off beautiully. Beauty and intensity were hallmarks of this stylish performance through leader Lorna McGovern's distinctive solo to the hushed ending...Michael O'Donnell's breath control allowed him to float a beautiful line in the slow movement and his nimble articulation and tasteful ornentation brought a joyous conclusion to the piece...The big work in the second half was Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. The tone of the first oboe was outstanding in lending feeling to the funeral march and the horn section was spectacular in the trio. The evening was crowned by the theme and variaions finale where excitement was inexorably ratcheted up....Allan Young's understanding of building tension and the fine playing of Perth Symphony Orchestra made this a memorable evening." Dundee Courier
23rd
February 2008 - Spring Concert Mozart
- Magic Flute Overture
"Beethoven's Emperor Concerto was a triumph, due both to another excellent PSO performance and the brilliance of soloist Scott Mitchell. Interpretation apart, and with his obvious deep affinity to the work, this was a performance of total precision - the brilliant variety, tone and colour demanded by the composer was delivered by Mitchell in some style. The PSO's part was exemplary, sympathetic in accomaniment and strong and secure in the orchestral passages....Sibelius's Second Symphony was an instant success at its premiere in 1902 and its appeal was underlined on Saturday with the PSO pulling out all the stops for a superb performance. It is not a work to be taken lightly as each section gets a thorough examination. In this, each passed with flying colours, and to pick out any one would be unfair" Dundee Courier "Perth Symphony Orchestra performed a further impressive concert under the direction of their conductor Allan Young...Scott Mitchell was the superb soloist in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 5...From his opening flourishes Scott Mitchell's reading was fresh and individual but deeply considered.....Sibelius' mighty Symphony No 2 was the climax of the evening in a performance which added up its excellent constituents to something even greater.....Through darknesss and drama the PSO powered on like a magnificent vessel under full sail to the coda and a magnificent brass-led triumph, which was followed by a roar of approbation and well-deserved, resonant applause from the large audience.." Perthshire Advertiser
17th
November 2007 - Autumn Concert Britten
- Four Sea Interludes
"On Saturday evening the large audience in Perth Concert Hall heard another impressive concert by Perth Symphony Orchestra under conductor Allan Young...They opened with Britten's Four Sea Interludes. The orchestra's engagement with the music was clear from the eerie high-lying line for the violins at the start to the implacable disaster of the final cataclysm. In the second and third movements the woodwinds were excellent in their syncopated chatter while the violas, cellos and double basses were powerful in their turbid surges... Finzi's clarinet concerto delighted the audience as soloist Andrew Mann aimed for integration, a partnership rather than a contest with the orchestra...the clarinet showing warmth and sincerity...Andrew Mann struck just the right tone...Brahms' Second Symphony was the second half of the programme, a performance that would have graced any orchestra. With comitted playing was the inspiring direction of Allan Young....it was apparent that here was a conductor who really knew how to build a symphony as a cumulative structure...among such good playing the first horn deserves mention for her solos as do the characterful winds in the third movement." Dundee Courier "After the rigours of the Sea Interludes it was a good contrast in programming Finzi's delicate and sensitive clarinet concerto. The soloist was Perth-born musician Andrew Mann. His silk-like, mellow tone is ideal for this piece and he produced an authoratative performance that captured perfectly the whimsical and wistful nature of the work" Perthshire Advertiser
25th
February 2007 Rossini William
Tell Overture (theme
to the Lone Ranger), Prokofiev Lieutenant
Kijé Suite, Hans Zimmer Themes
from Gladiator
"Congratulations to Allan Young and Perth Symphony Orchestra on yet another super evening of musical entertainment" Perthshire Advertiser
18th
November 2006 - Autumn Concert Mendelssohn
- Overture The Hebrides
"Perth
Symphony Orchestra goes from strength to strenght, not only in its membership
numbers, which seem to increase with every concert but also in the quality
of its playing...."The large string section, led with flair by
Lorna McGovern, gave the opening a gentle rise and fall as the motion
of the sea swelled and ebbed...
25th
February 2006 - Spring Concert Brahms
- Academic Festival Overture
"Perth Symphony Orchestra was again to be heard in the new concert hall at Horsecross on Saturday evening ...the benefits of the new hall were evident from the quiet opening measures of Brahms' Academic Festival Overture where the running string figure and the bass drum strokes came over to full effect. Allan Young conducted an ebullient performance relishing the fun, yet also with beautifully full string tone from the violins in their legato passages..... his (David O'Connell's) restrained playing in the Adagio third movement proved that less is indeed more........It was an excellent performance of Tchaikovsky's less often heard Symphony No 2 'Little Russian' which completed the concert" Dundee Courier "For its spring concert in the concert hall on Saturday, Perth Symphony Orchestra adopted the time-tested, satisfying programme format of overture, concerto and symphony representing Brahms, Elgar and Tchaikovsky in familiar but substantial works. Fine mellow brass and pert woodwind sound contributed excellently in Brahms's Academic Overture, but chief honours must go to the strings ... their playing was distinguished by crisp snappy vigour where demanded and by lovely full blooded legato passages...... a great deal of thoughtfulness in the performance (of the Elgar cello concerto) which realised to great effect the introspection, bleakness and sadness with outbreaks of anger which characterise the work ......The orchestra relished playing this (Tchaikovsky's 2nd Symphony), tuneful cheery work, bursting with delightful folk music themes. Rich warm sound marked the opening energetic allegro. The andantino fairly tripped along. The quirky scherzo was given a robust ride. Lush string tone in the finale ended a performance full of exuberance and verve." Perthshire Advertiser
27th
November 2005 - Autumn Concert Sibelius
- Finlandia
"Perth Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert in the new concert hall at Horsecross last night. And in moving it had a surge in attendence and, in response, really upped its game. The programme began with an excellent performance of Sibelius' Finlandia. A world premiere followed:John McLeod's Clarinet Concerto. The orchestra played this atmospheric piece with great commitment, as did Linda Merrick, the sovereign soloist. The percussion section was particularly worthy mention. The orchestra, under the excellent leadership of conductor Allan Young, finished the first half with a colourfully romantic reading of the suite from Bizet's The Fair Maid of Perth. The main work in the second half was a magnificent performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto. Alasdair Beatson was the thoughtfully poetic soloist. Almost as programmed encores, the concert finished with two of Brahms' Hungarian Dances: No 3, with delightful contributions from the oboes; and with the orchestra alert in No 6 to the the teasing variations in tempo. The audience in this well filled hall showed its appreciation by clapping, stamping and bravos." Dundee Courier. and from the Perthshire Advertiser: "Perth Symphony Orchestra, under its conductor Allan Young entered a new era of music making with their first concert in Perth Concert Hall, and what a splendid concert it was.....The brass of the PSO began the brooding opening theme [of Finlandia] with powerfully played chords that set the mood perfectly..." "Commissioned and played by the international clarinettist and clinician Linda Merrick this work [John McLeod's Clarinet Concerto] was a myriad of complex rhythms and themes. Scored for clarinet, strings and percussion, this one-movement work displays the clarinet as protagonist against the more subdued strings. The soft, gentle opening gathers notes to build into a tone cluster before the soloist enters with the first of its many flourishes. The clarinet line dashed about with pithy short fragments and scalic passages whilst the orchestra acknowledged with varied accompaniment. This difficult scoring was carried off well, with both soloist and orchestra building on the spiky rhythms and quirky themes. The percussion section had a prominent part throughout, with the composer asking for some of the less frequently played instruments:roto-toms, wind chimes and anvil which gave added interest. Indeed, the percussion section excelled themselves in their efforts. The slower central section produced some fine playing from the leader of the orchestra, Lorna McGovern, in duet with the soloist. However the respite was soon over and the more aggressive and turbulent elements heard earlier are reprised, with virtuoso passages for the clarinet. The last word was given to the soloist, with a musical rendition of the initials of Bach (Bb,A,C B) played softly, therby closing this eclectic work with a resolution of the conflict. John McLeod was in attendance to receive the well-deserved applause with Linda Merrick." "The Suite The Fair Maid of Perth..was an appropriate addition to the programme with the Fair Maid's house just behind the new concert hall....These delightful pieces featured lovely solo playing from the harp, flutes and bassoon with the stately march producing some excellent ensemble playing from the whole orchestra." "To have a world premiere in your programme is a major highlight for any orchestra but the undoubted highlight of this concert was the masterly performance of Perth virtuoso Alasdair Beatson, in a stunning performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor. Alasdair is rightly earning an international reputation and we were fortunate to hear this first class pianist as he ascends to the top of his profession. This performance had star quality with playing of maturity and musicianship.....The solo passages were all handled with ease as Alasdair gave a faultless performance throughout....The cadenza demonstrated Alasdair's mighty technique and tremendous power. The wonderful playing in the slow movement expressed the sheer beauty of this popular work, demonstrating the lyricism of the movement to the full. The hushed playing from the muted strings, combined with excellent playing from the principal horn and cello made the movement memorable, whilst Alasdair elaborated the themes with an intensely lyrical touch. The last movement ...emphasised the rhythmic vitality and extrovert quality of the concerto....The second subject melody was beautifully played first by the solo flute, before the piano embellished it and the full orchestra took it up to the final grand tutti. This indeed was a five-star performance to remember"
For concerts February 2005-1995 see the concert archive page
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Perth
Symphony Orchestra
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