Category: Concert Review

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Autumn Concert 2024 Reveiw

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.

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Civic Festival 2024 Concert Review

Elstree Mozart Players, founded in 2018 by Derek Holland in collaboration with Pat Strack and Andrew Grady, with an aim to bring the richness of classical music to the communities of Elstree and Borehamwood held its latest concert on Sunday 23rd June 2024 at ‘All Saints’ Church in Borehamwood.

The orchestra’s president Cllr John Graham wselcomed the gathered audience to the concert, which was attended by both Mayors of Elstree and Borehamwood, Cllr Alpha Collins and Hertsmere, Cllr. Richard Butler which formed the opening musical event for this year’s Civic Festival in Elstree and Borehamwood.

Cllr John Graham (left), Cllr Richrd Butler, (centre), and Cllr Alpha Collins with Andrew Grady (right)

This was another concert with something for everyone from Derek Holland and the Elstree Mozart Players.

Proceedings began with a Concert March by the orchestra’s resident composer, Peter Wilson. A charming little piece in the light classical vain, designed to get the toes tapping and hearts pumping.

Then a short Trumpet concerto by Leopold Mozart, the less talented father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was played on an old D trumpet by orchestra member Alison Perry. Quite an instrument to play, as it is very taxing on the players lips, but Alison sailed through, with very good accompaniment from the orchestra.

Next the leader of the orchestra, Lucy Cumming and principal oboist, Barry Solomon played one of Bach’s wonderful concertos, the D minor for Oboe and Violin. It was played brilliantly by both soloists and with excellent orchestral accompaniment, it left the audience asking for more.

To follow, Peter Wilson excelled as pianist in Robert Docker’s Legend for Piano & Orchestra. It is a wonderful piece of light music that should be heard more regularly. Docker was a first-class composer of light classical music and Derek Holland and his players will never shy away from promoting these little gems.

Bringing the concert to the interval was a delightful piece by the composer Cecile Chaminade, her Concertino for Flute and Orchestra. Played flawlessly by the principal Flautist – Emma Brown. Once more the audience were wowed by the brilliant playing of soloist and orchestra.

To begin the second half, Elstree Mozart Players played a work by another local composer, Roderick Elmer – his Variations on the Hymn tune Harwich. He wrote it 10 years ago and it had not been played since. It had a demanding pattern of ever-increasing difficulty with each variation, yet the orchestra held it together for this unfamiliar piece, on just that one rehearsal. Remarkable.

To end the concert, they played Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No.31 ‘The Paris’. A big symphony and a big performance. No hesitation on the tempo for both the first movement and finale. Derek Holland always observes the composer’s tempi markings. What a rousing finish to the concert. Fantastic!

The orchestra would like to thank members of The Rotary Club of the Studios of Elstree and Borehamwood along with Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council for providing stewards for this concert.

Photos taken by Laurance Wiseman, Clive Butchins, Cllr Alpha Collins, & Andrew Grady

Review prepared by Graham Wilson

The next concert by Elstree Mozart Players is on Sunday 29th September 2024, 7.30pm at Allum Hall & Manor Elstree, featuring

  • Suppe – Morning Noon and Night in Vienna Overture
  • Elgar cello concerto – Soloist: Edwin Gatward
  • Tchaikovsky – Marche Slave (Guest Conductor Roland Marshall)
  • Philip White – Aubade (world premiere) Commissioned by Derek Holland and EMP
  • Massenet -Meditation from Thais – Soloist Lucy Cumming
  • Oscar Bohme – Trumpet Concerto – Soloist Dylan Lehner
  • Saint Saens – Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah.

Tickets £10 in advance (available from 1st September 2024)

£15.00 / £12.00 Concessions

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Janice Watson Sings Cabaret – All Saints Church, Borehamwood 24th March 2024.

Singers: Janice Watson and Laurie Marks

The ABC Trio: Celia Bangham – oboe, Adele Gordon – clarinet, Caitlin Stock – bassoon

Double Bass – Helen Boyea, Drums – Simon Kenyon-Smith, Piano – Derek Holland

This concert was the brainchild of both Andrew Grady and Derek Holland, it had been thwarted due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but now at last able to happen. As the current President of the Rotary Club of the Studios of Elstree and Borehamwood, Andrew Grady chose to raise money for The Alzheimer’s society in memory of his late mother, who was also a keen singer herself, having family links to the Huddersfield Choral Society.

The ABC Trio who are all regular musicians with the Elstree Mozart Players, opened proceedings with an Allegro from Mozart’s Divertimento No. 4. A lively start to this wonderful extravaganza and played with the usual panache you expect from EMP musicians.

Then it was time for Janice to delight us with her Cabaret voice, ably accompanied by Derek Holland, Helen Boyes and Simon Kenyon-Smith. She gave us a little explanation about the differences between the Operatic and Cabaret style of voice, and how the sound is made. Such a consummate professional, Janice brings an almost forensic and analytical understanding to her performances and is prepared and able to share that know how with an audience. She began with Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie by Tesori /Scanlon. From the first note she had everyone spellbound; no microphone required, her operatic training kicked in even though her sound and delivery were clearly showtime-musical in style. The applause was instant as she finished, warm and appreciative of such a class act. She followed up with Secret Love, from Calamity Jane by Sammy Fain and ended this selection with, My Ship by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin. By now the audience were completely under her spell, Janice was on a roll.

To give her voice a break, The ABC Trio performed a few more numbers. Firstly, The Entertainer by Scott Joplin, then Nessun Dorma [none shall sleep] from Turandot by Puccini and Regina della notte [queen of the night aria] from Magic Flute by Mozart. A brilliant foil to cabaret songs and a nod to Janice and her profession.

Next, Janice sung the Tale of the Oyster by Cole Porter, an amusing number where she brought all her years of opera stage experience and presence to the fore.  Then a song that most people know either as the Liverpool Football team anthem, or more properly from the musical, Carousel, – You’ll Never Walk Alone by Rodgers and Hammerstein. She ended this section with ‘Bill’ by Jerome kern, a beautiful love song and Janice brought great heart and pathos to it. The ABC Trio then played a Gavotte by Gossec and a Tango from Espana by Albeniz.

To end the first half, Janice was joined by Laurie Marks (an experienced Gilbert & Sullivan participant), in a famous duet from Annie Get Your Gun – Anything you Can Do, by Irvin Berlin. They both sung and acted the roles perfectly, much to the joy and amusement of the audience, rounding off what had been a brilliant and thoroughly engaging experience, and we were only halfway through!

The ABC Trio opened the second half with Tico-Tico no Fuba [sparrow in the cornmeal] by Abreau, then Beautiful dreamer by Stephen Foster. Beautifully played and preparing us for Janice’s next numbers.

She began with Cry me a River by Arthur Hamilton. A dreamy, steamy song that Janice got beneath the skin of perfectly. Then she was joined by Laurie in his specialist subject, There’s A Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast from the Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan. Again, they inhabited the parts and delivered a flawless performance. Janice ended this section with And all that Jazz from Chicago by Kander and Ebb. She really got to the heart of cabaret with this one and gave it some ‘wellie’. The audience couldn’t get enough, applauding loudly and enthusiastically.

Once more The ABC Trio gave Janice time to rest her voice and played Jeanie with the light brown hair by Stephen Foster, Rondo from Divertimento no 4 by Mozart, and then the evergreen Danny boy by Weatherly.

Janice began her final selection of songs with Maybe This Time by Kander and Ebb from the musical Cabaret. A love song that she understood thoroughly and lived through every moment taking the audience with her. Then a change of style, sung more operatically, yet from a musical, Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. A superb song and a glorious rendition, then applause to match.

A change of mood, humour. Janice sung A Word on my Ear by Flanders and Swann a comic song about a tone deaf singer, clearly not about Janice! Brilliantly sung and performed with gestures from her able accompanist – Derek. The final song, also humorous if a little macabre, had Laurie join her again in, A Little Priest from Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim. They played their roles very convincingly, almost chillingly! At the end, applause was hearty, celebratory and a tribute to a wonderful artist. Bravo Janice!

A final flourish by The ABC Trio with Maruntel [fast dance] from Romanian dances by Bartók rounded off a fantastic evening of entertainment. The audience responded enthusiastically now ‘sugar’ high on all these musical lollipops.

The local Mayor gave thanks to the musicians and particularly Janice for her wonderful singing, also to the organisers and audience who make it all worthwhile. Andrew Grady also thanked everyone for supporting the Alzheimer’s Society and his friends and musicians for organising and playing, clearly moved by the occasion.

‘Let’s have more of that Jazz’ Janice, you have proved what a versatile and talented opera singer you are and how you can sing anything, adapt your voice to any genre. Fantastic!!

Graham Wilson (Freelance Reviewer for EMP)

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The Elstree Mozart Players, All Saints Church, Borehamwood, Saturday, 24th February 2024, 7:30pm.

Concert Review by Graham Wilson

Derek Holland with Elstree Mozart Players

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.

Elizabeth Venner

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.

Peter Bussereau

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.

Tom Pinnell

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.

Elizabether Venner
Elstree Mozart Players

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!

Cllr . Farida Turner

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