Sunday 27th September 2026 – Allum Manor & Hall, Elstree & Borehamwood
Serena Leader (left) with Derek Holland & Cllr Parveen Rani
The Mayor of Hertsmere Cllr. Parveen Rani welcomed everyone to the evenings concert.
The orchestra were led by Lucy Cumming and conducted by Derek Holland ably assisted by Roland Marshall and Philip White as guest conductors.
After an enthusiastic and thoughtful welcome by the mayor, the concert began with an exciting performance of Verdi’s dramatic Force of Destiny Overture conducted by Roland Marshall. It was very well played by the orchestra.
This was followed by the charming waltz Iris and Lavender written by Peter Wislon, one of the country’s leading composers of light music who has enjoyed a long association with the orchestra and who played piano and celesta in the concert. It is of course an important part of the work of EMP to promote light music which is still too rarely heard today in concert.
Peter commented that the last time it was played it was at Windsor Castle during an official visit by President Trump who probably didn’t listen to it anyway! Our audience certainly did and it was very well received.
The orchestra has always had a policy of featuring neglected masterpieces alongside well-loved classics and the centrepiece of the first half was a performance of Hamilton Harty’s violin concerto played with consummate virtuosity and musicianship by the distinguished soloist Dame Geraldine Andrews who also played as she always does in the rest of the concert as a regular member of the orchestra.
This was the first performance since 1984 of a gloriously tuneful and Romantic violin concerto, the neglect of which is unaccountable. Harty was famed in his lifetime as a conductor, notably with the Halle orchestra as well as a composer. She received well deserved and rapturous applause. Virtuosity of another kind concluded the first half of the concert as orchestral percussionist Kim Sargeant took the audience through Leroy Anderson’s the Typewriter and yes… he played the genuine instrument!
The second half of the concert began with another piece by a living composer. Philip White is closely associated with the orchestra and is one of the country’s most eminent composers, having won many awards for his work, and his beautifully evocative and melodic Natale a Venezia was again very well received by the audience and enjoyed by the orchestra. Philip is also a masterful and renowned conductor in his own right, so at Derek’s request he conducted the world premiere.
The orchestra is always keen to promote the works of living composers whose work is of the highest quality and that has audience appeal. One could just close their eyes and be transported to Venice with its beautiful play of light and atmosphere. This was followed by another neglected masterpiece, the early and masterful symphony by Sir Arthur Sullivan full of the melodic distinction that later became so apparent in the savoy operas and superbly written for the orchestra.
The third movement was a showcase of the orchestra’s highly distinguished oboist Barry Solomon who excelled himself in this lively and enchanting movement.
After some closing words of thanks from Cllr. Sandra Parnell, President, The Rotary Club of the Studios & Elstree and Borehamwood plus Cllr. Simon Rubner, drawing attention to the orchestra’s continual purpose of raising money for charities, the evening was drawn to the truly foot tapping strains of Barwick Green by the Yorkshire composer Arthur Wood played to mark the 75th anniversary of the Radio serial The Archers.
Altogether an unmissable experience for audience and orchestra alike and wonderfully supported by members of the local Rotary Club and Andrew Grady who although not present due to being overseas had done his usual tireless work to ensure that everything ran so smoothly.
Review by Derek Holland, Conductor Elstree Mozart Players
Photographs: Sasha Capocci & Cllr. Paveen Rani