The Elstree Mozart Players was founded by Derek Holland in partnership with Pat Strack and Andrew Grady in 2018.
The members of the orchestra either professional, semi-professional and very good amateur musicians. The group is formed on a concert-by-concert basis and the intention is to perform regular classical concerts of a high standard in the locality and elsewhere. The group ranges from a chamber orchestra to a full symphony orchestra as it is tonight.
The orchestra was named in honour of the late Harry Blech (1909-1999) who founded the London Mozart Players in 1949. The orchestra will be seated in the traditional manner with the violins to the left and the right of the conductor.
On Sunday September 29th the orchestra performed a concert at Allum Hall, In Elstree supporting ‘Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK’ (SMA UK) the designated charity for this year’s president of The Rotary Club of the Studios of Elstree and Borehamwood, Sam Covill.
During the year the club has supported many different concerts, and this annual concert is run in conjunction with the club to help support each incoming president.
The Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Richard Butler nd his consort, plus the Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, Cllr Alpha Collins, and is wife Rev. Louise Collins were alo in attendance for this concert.
The concert interbval raffle, organised by the Rotary Club members raised over £300.00 for SMA UK.
It was once more a well-balanced programme from the Elstree Mozart Players (EMP) and Derek Holland. Two Concertos and a ‘Meditation’ to show off the soloists; good old ‘war-horses’ to begin and end proceedings and a newly commissioned work. Not forgetting a guest conductor and oh yes, yours truly asked to play the Tam-tam in Marche Slave. Whatever were they thinking?
To begin with, a favourite of mine, Franz von Suppe’s Overture – Morning Noon & Night in Vienna. Plenty of good tunes and rousing motifs to get the foot tapping and not forgetting a beautiful solo opening, that gave the principal Cellist – Juliet Maclean – a chance to shine. A perfect way to start a concert and demonstrate the confident, ensemble playing of this talented group of musicians.
This was followed by Edward Elgar’s Autumnal Cello Concerto, a work written just after World War 1. It plumbs the depths of human emotions and requires great sensitivity. The soloist was one of EMP’s own, a young man with amazing technique and musicality – Edwin Gatward. At only 20 years old he is a polished and complete musician with a reputation for playing what the composer indicates. There was no ego, or histrionics, getting in the way of this performance, you got Elgar all the way. The accompaniment from Derek and EMP complimented Edwin’s wonderful playing. The applause was loud, appreciative and well deserved as the final note faded away, even shouts of Bravo! Bravo indeed Edwin! Here is a realisation of promising talent now being fulfilled.
Next, Derek handed the baton over to one of his oldest friends – Roland Marshall. He is a tuba player with many years of experience and has been a regular player with EMP. This was his first opportunity to conduct, and he’d chosen Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave. I was at the rehearsal, when it was decided they were short of a percussionist to hit the tam-tam. I reluctantly agreed to help out! So, during the concert I went from the auditorium to the back of the orchestra where I waited for my moment to bash a piece of metal. Quite surreal, but very exciting as like Roland, this was my first time. I think he did a wonderful job, as for me, I couldn’t possibly comment! The audience enjoyed it and applauded heartily for our conducting debutant.
After the interval, EMP played the newly commissioned work by Phillip White – Aubade, An English Pastoral. A picture painting in sound of morning and the awakening of the day, a work of great poise and beauty. Considering that the orchestra had rehearsed this piece together only hours earlier, their performance was staggeringly complete and rounded. At the end the audience applauded warmly, and the Composer was on hand to take a bow.
The next work was Jules Massenet’s Ethereal Meditation from the opera Thais. Lucy Cumming the leader of the orchestra, who most of the time is happy to let others take the limelight, deservedly took the honours of the solo violin part in this gorgeous piece. Six minutes of pure magic, applauded warmly at the end.
Time for yet another concerto. I had never heard of Oscar Bohme, but he was born in Germany in 1870 and ended his life in Russia at the hands of the Stalinist regime in 1938. He composed many works for trumpet in the intervening time. His Concerto in F minor had a romantic and very 19th Century feel to it, yet virtuosic and flashy as well as good melodies. The Orchestra’s young principal Trumpeter, Dylan Lehner played brilliantly, showing off his technique and flare. He had chosen this work and proceeded to give a flawless performance to rapturous applause at the end. Bravo Dylan!
To finish, another rousing piece to get the blood pumping, Saint Saens raucous Bacchanale from his opera Samsom & Delilah. The orchestra displayed all the virtuosity that this work requires, bringing the concert to a loud and exciting conclusion. Well, done to all, a brilliant evening’s entertainment and loudly appreciated by the audience.
We’ll have to wait until 2025 for the next one, so put Saturday 8th February 2025 in your diaries everyone!
Graham Wilson (Freelance Reviewer for EMP)
Photos by coutesy of Cllr. Alpha Collins, Clive Butchins, Laurance Wiseman & Andrew Grady.