Concert Review by Graham Wilson
Another jam backed concert from the Elstree Mozart Players and their conductor Derek Holland; overture, short piece, concertos, arias and a Symphony, something for every listener and some wonderful music making.
Elstree Mozart Players President Cllr. John Graham welcomed concert goers to the evening’s proceedings, introducing current Hertsmere Mayor Cllr. Chis Myers and his consort, plus Cllr. Farida Turner, representing the Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood.
Cllr Myers, in his welcome speech spoke highly of the orchestra’s beginnings complementing Derek Holland, Andrew Grady and Pat Strack for setting up the orchestra, which raises funds for needy charitable causes.
The concert on Saturday 24th February 2024 was set out to raise funds for the Borehamwood Foodbank, and raised nearly £200.00 for this worthwhile cause.
The concert began with Rossini’s Silken Ladder Overture. The playing and tempi were spot on, with the slower passages – smooth and silky, the fast music – sparkling and energetic. There must be special praise for the oboes who had some very virtuosic passages to negotiate, they played with aplomb. A thoroughly excellent start to proceedings.
Then a short piece by the Finnish composer, Järnefelt – Praeludium. Derek and EMP played like they knew it intimately, indeed for me it was like being reacquainted with an old friend, a piece I’d known years ago but not heard for decades, many decades! I glorious little gem to fill a Christmas stocking, or as an early Easter present, delightful.
More delight was to follow when out of the viola section stepped Elizabeth Venner, to sing “Batti Batti” from Mozart’s Opera – Don Giovanni. From supporting the orchestra instrumentally to singing out front, Elizabeth gave us a matchless performance of this exceptional aria. Clean intonation, coupled with a beautiful tone and expressive both musically and facially, she lived the part. The rousing applause at the end said it all, brilliant!
To end the first half, the accomplished violinist Peter Bussereau, who has performed with EMP previously, gave us a thoughtful and rousing rendering of Mendelssohn’s evergreen Violin Concerto in E minor.
His playing was virtuosic in the quick passages, flowing and melodious in the slow ones. The slow movement being the highlight, Peter’s playing caressed the air and floated through the ether, ably accompaniment by EMP throughout. The Finale sped along with a virtuosic buzz and clean internation, a brilliant performance that had the audience applauding loudly. Bravo!
After the interval we were treated to another concerto, Richard Strauss’s virtuosic Horn concerto No.1 and it was another of the orchestra’s regular players – Tom Pinnell – who stepped forward for this.
He had told me previously that Strauss was one of his favourite composers, so this was going to be an important challenge for him. He rose to that challenge, powering through all the difficulties.
The horn is the most difficult of the brass instruments to master and hornist battle with the beast. Tom conquered the beast, his playing technically brilliant in the virtuosic sections, whilst silky-smooth in the slow ones.
The finale was a great romp and well accompanied by EMP and Derek Holland to the final note. The audience gave this talented young player the applause he deserved. Well done, Tom.
Next, Elizabeth Venner sung yet another aria, Adele’s Laughing song from Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. Again, the diction was flawless, the delivery perfect and surely there is an actor deep within her bones.
The audience was ecstatic with their applause, what a soprano voice and a find for the orchestra. Bravo Elizabeth.
The final work of the evening was an early symphony by Schubert, No.2 in B flat. Derek made the point before they started, that this was written by a young man barely 18 at the time.
The music was remarkable for such a young composer and Derek with EMP produced a stunning performance.
The stately Largo opening led to an allegro vivace which with Derek is always an Allegro, no pulling back on that.
The string players had plenty of busy, scurrying passages to play, which didn’t get any easier in the later movements especially the Finale. The slow movement – Andante was a lovely interlude between the more strident First and Scherzo movements, allowing the woodwind players to really come to the fore.
The scherzo, more of an old fashioned menuetto was like an angry wasp, while the Finale bounced along, full of life.
Did I detect the ghost of Harry Blech, the late conductor of the London Mozart Players, hovering and smiling over proceedings?
Well may be, but one thing is for sure, the audience loved the resulting performance and gave Derek and EMP loud applause, even before the final cadences had ceased. Fantastic!
At the close of the concert Cllr. Farida Turner offered a vote of thanks to all the participants of the concert, and organisers plus helpers who had made the concert such a pleasure.
With Cllr. Myers, they presented small gifts of thanks to the three soloists for the evening, Violinist Peter Bussereau, Soprano Elizabeth Venner, and Horn Soloist Tom Pinnell.
The next concert featuring Elstree Mozart Players is on Sunday 23 June 2024, 7.30pm at All Saints Church, Borehamwood, and features:
- Peter Wilson Guard of Honour March
- Chaminade Concertino for flute and orchestra (soloist Emma Brown)
- Leopold Mozart Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (soloist Alison Perry)
- Robert Docker Legend for piano and orchestra (soloist Peter Wilson)
- Bach concerto for Violin, Oboe, and orchestra (soloists Lucy Cumming and Barry Solomon)
- Roderick Elmer Harwich Variations
- Leroy Anderson Forgotten Dreams
- Mozart Symphony 31 (The Paris)
Tickets cost £10 in advance and are £15.00 on the door with £12.00 Concessions, and will be available from the 1st of May 2024
Contact Pat Strack on 020 8386 3151 or Andrew Grady on 07802 736628 for further details.
Email elstreemozartplayers@outlook.com
Web Site: www.elstreemozartplayers.org.uk
Tickets will also be available from the Ticket Source Web Site
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/elstree-mozart-players
Graham Wilson
EMP Concert Reviewer