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CONCERTS Conductor
Allan Young Leader
Lorna McGovern PSO
2009-2010
SEASON AUTUMN CONCERT: Saturday 21st November 2009 7.30pm Dvorak
Carnival Overture SPRING
CONCERT: Saturday, 27 February 2010 7.30pm
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
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
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
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
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
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...
February
2006 - Spring Concert
"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
November
2005 - Autumn Concert
"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"
March
2005 - Spring Concert
"They started with a powerfully atmospheric reading of Weber's Overture Der Freischutz, with horns and clarinet expressive of the darkly Romantic German forests........Mozart's Clarinet Concerto was launched with an excellent opening tutti before the entrance of Philip Alexander as an agile soloist, beautifully alive to light and shade" Dundee Courier "They excelled with a concert of immense vitality, emergy and musicianship which combined all that local music-making has to offer......Philip Alexander gave an immensely authoritative account of this well-known work .....This was an inspired performance that brought a justifiable long accolade from the thrilled audience" Perthshire Advertiser
November
2004 - Autumn Concert
"Perth Symphony Orchestra gave an immensely enjoyable performance of this delightful work (Rossini's Thieving Magpie Overture) ......The young Scottish cellist Kennedy Leitch joined the orchestra as soloist in Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations. He brought singing tone and a fine sense of line to his part, and was deft and full of personality in his short cadenza and final variation ......In all that they do Perth Symphony Orchestra put forward sterling musical values." Dundee Courier "Under the competent baton of their conductor Allan Young, the PSO acquitted themselves with style, energy, conviction and confidence with fine playing from all sections........ the leader of the orchestra Lorna McGovern excelled throughout the concert............from the opening bars it was obvious the audience were in for a real treat. The soloist (Kennedy Leitch) played the main theme beautifully with a full, rich tone yet demonstrating the lightness and easy-going charm of the 'Rococo' melody. The smaller scale orchestra was completely sympathetic in its accompanyment with well balanced playing, whilst the soloist demonstrated his mastery of the cello in the variations. The cadenza was played with aplomb and the final variation played with both speed and spirit.....a name to look out for in the future.......Perth is indeed very fortunate to have an amateur orchestra that performs to such a high standard..." Perthshire Advertiser
February 2004 - Mediterranean Magic
Perth Symphony Orchestra were delighted to present their evening of Mediterranean Magic on 28th February to a large and appreciative audience. Orchestra and audience alike enjoyed the rare opportunity of working with and hearing the wonderfully relaxing sound of a skilful classical guitar quartet, The Edinburgh Guitar Quartet. A wonderful end to the orchestra's 50th Anniversary season. "...the engagement of the Edinburgh Guitar quartet proved an inspired coup. Their performance of Rodrigo's concerto for the four instruments at the heart of the programme gave the audience the probably unique experience of hearing a wonderful work. The intense passion of the players, their complete command of the idiom, and the matching response of the orchestra made this item utterly enchanting. So too was Gary Macleod's playing of the famous Adagio from Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez ....Unaccompanied the quartet performed three delightful short pieces .. proving their mastery of their specialist musical form." Perthshire Advertiser " A Performance of Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre, with the spookiness in all the right places, ended the first half. Death's fiddler was orchestra leader Lorna McGovern playing the part brilliantly ......The best performance of the evening was Ravel's Bolero, greeted with applause and whoops of approbation. The insinuating rhythm and fine solo contrubutions from all sections of the orchestra, impressivly held together by conductor Allan Young, made this the juggernaut that Ravel intended." Dundee Courier
November 2003 - 50th Anniversary Concert
Perth Symphony Orchestra was delighted to entertain a large and enthusiastic audience at their 50th Anniversary Concert on Sunday 9th November 2003. Soloist John Wallace gave an exquisite account of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto and John McLeod's Stone of Destiny which was commissioned specially for the occasion was warmly received by both audience and the press. "John McLeod's...flair for musical drama and orchestration were apparent throughout Stone of Destiny... It was a considerable challenge for a non-professional orchestra, but they rose to in convincingly under their excellent conductor, Allan Young." The Scotsman "...Perth Symphony Orchestra celebrated its 50th Anniversary with an excellent concert...His (John Wallace) soft, lyrical playing was a joy to listen to and the orchestra gave a subtle yet confident accompaniment." Dundee Courier "Perth Symphony Orchestra and their conductor Allan Young, are to be congratulated on thier 50th anniversary concert. It was well played throughout and produced music for all age groups....Bring on the next 50 years for PSO!" Perthshire Advertiser
February 2003 - An evening of Opera and Ballet Music
"This evening of Opera and Ballet Music started with a fine performance of Tchaikovsky's Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet. Conductor Allan Young had the work's fire and emotion in all the right places....Excellent performances of three excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ended a much appreciated concert" (Dundee Courier 24 February 2003) "In all three pieces, both singers gave a semi-acted performance, clearly putting over the characters' thoughts and emotions....sung with joy and vigour to a delighted audience. Delight was the key-note in the final work in part one: movements from the ballet music to Massenet's opera 'Le Cid' The orchestra revelled in this sunny, brightly coloured, tuneful music. Excellent though everyone was the trio of harp, flute and cor anglais at the start of 'Madrilene' were particularly beautiful. Part two started with a strong performance of Strauss's Overture 'Die Fledermaus', a highlight of which was the first oboe's insouciant tune.... finally Tchiakovsky again. Superbly played and characterised performances of three excerpts from 'Swan Lake." (Perthshire Advertiser 28 February 2003)
November 2002 - Autumn Concert In this successful concert Perth Orchestral Society had on stage one of the largest orchestras it has ever presented. "Under the able leadership of their conductor Allan Young all sections played impressively...In Elgar's Wand of Youth Suite No.1 orchestra members showed their ability in the seven movements: nimble strings, characterful wind and exciting percussion....The Strings of the PSO were joined my members of Perth Youth Orchestra in a flowing interpretation of Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia...Holst's Suite The Planets filled the second half. A major undertaking for any orchestra, it received a first rate performance: Mars was impressively implacable and Jupiter delivered with great panache, its sonorous central tune given in fine style" (Dundee Courier 12 November 2002) "The members of Perth Symphony can be justifiably proud of themselves after their excellent concert on Sunday in Perth's City Hall...The Overture from Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks" was set off with a fine swagger by PSO under its conductor, Allan Young....The seven movements (of Elgar's first Wand of Youth Suite) gave various sections of the orchestra their chance to shine..... Allan Young's interpretation (of Vaughan William's "Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis") kept the piece flowing and allowed the players to give depth of sonority to their lines. Particularly fine were the contribution form the solo quartet, especially the first viola and the orchestra's leader Lorna McGovern, who shone here as in her many other solos throughout the evening....Holst's Suite for large orchestra...acheived a simply outstanding performance and was appreciated as such by the enthuiastic audience" (Perthshire Advertiser 15 November 2002)
February 2002 - Russian Evening "Orchestra
produces the perfect Russian mood" (Dundee Courier, 25 February
2002)
Perth Symphony Orchestra presented their Spring concert on Saturday, February 23, in Perth City Hall at 7.30pm. The "Russian Evening" featured three of the most popular and loved pieces in the concert repertoire:the ever popular "Prince Igor" overture by Borodin, Rachmaninov's second piano concerto and Tchaikovsky's Pathétique Symphony. The evening was hugely enjoyed by audience and players alike and the the orchestra was honoured to have Perth pianist Alasdair Beatson as their soloist for the evening. His masterly account of the Rachmaninov was truly inspiring "not only did he make light of the fearsome Rachmaninov pyrotechnics but he responded throughout the enchanting themes with playing of rare poetry and musicality - a performance of amazing maturity for one in his early 20s..." (Dundee Courier). "Alasdair's performance of the taxing solo part was carried off with aplomb.. Such was the performance that it was greeted with prolonged enthuiastic applause by the large audience, the soloist being recalled several times." (Perthshire Advertiser).
"In Borodin's Prince Igor Overture conductor Allan Young and his players immediately established the atmosphere of highly charged emotion to which Russian melodies are ideally suited." (Dundee Courier) "Of particular note were the pleasingly vocal performance of her solo by the orchestra's first horn and the unanimity and intonation of the cellos in their exposed section just before the coda" (Perthshire Advertiser). "The orchestra's sensitive accompaniment allowed young Perth born Alasdair Beatson to give a most inspiring account of the solo part." (Dundee Courier). "Both the soloist and the orchestra played with clarity and brilliance in this work which in less skilful hands can sound bottom heavy." (Perthshire Advertiser). "..in
Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony Mr Young obtained disciplined and sensitive
playing, particularly in the symphony's magical second movement and
in the thrilling march like third. Even more impressive was the finale,
which closes with a slow movement ending in a hushed pianissimo superbly
managed in this performance."
(Dundee
Courier).
"The
emotionally charged world of this symphony was given a firm start by
the excellent playing of the double-basses and bassoon. Throughout the
woodwind gave confident, characterful contributions....The allegro set
off with considerable rhythic strength, one particularly fine point
being being where the trombones intone part of the Orthodox "Service
for the dead"....Perth Symphony Orchestra gave an almost Elgarian
nobility to part of the final movement, while not neglecting its passion,
before the work subsided to annihilation, back down in the depths of
the cellos and double-basses. This was an interpretation of great power,
which can only add to the stature of this orchestra." (Perthshire
Advertiser)
November
2001 : An Evening of Classical Jazz Perth and Kinross Big Band: Songs by Gershwin - I got Rhythm, Summertime, Can't help
lovin' dat man (Rowan Hellier, soprano) February
2001 : A Bohemian Evening November
2000 : February
2000: Concert with a Scottish Theme November
1999: Music from Stage and Screen Band of the 51st Highland Brigade Superman (A symphonic suite) - John Williams February
1999
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Perth
Symphony Orchestra
Email enquiries@perthsymphonyorchestra.org.uk
