#EMP CONCERT REVIEW – Elstree Mozart Players

All Saints Church, Borehamwood, Sunday 17th May 2026.

Featuring: Derek Holland on piano, Barry Solomon: oboe,

Serena Leader: violin. Elizabeth Venner: soprano and in duets with Janice.

This concert raised over £620.00 of funds for the Stroke Association and Prostrate Cancer UK, two charities supported by Goerge Carr, the current President of the Rotary Club of the Studios & Elstree and Borehamwood.

In attendance for this special concert was the Mayor of Hertsmere Cllr. Alpha Collins, accompanied by his consort, Rev. Louise Collins, and the newly enthroned Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood, Cllr. Tushar Kumar.

Rev Steven Young, the new vicar at All Saints Church welcomed everyone to the concert, which began this feast of music and singing with Janice singing Vivaldi’s ‘Filiae Maestae’ from his Gloria, accompanied by Derek – keyboard, Barry – oboe and Serena – violin. Next, Janice sung Puccini’s Un Bel di from Madame Butterfly, Derek on piano. I heartfelt and tragic song, beautifully sung, Janice calling on her years of operatic experience.

Between the singing, Serena played a selection of short pieces beginning with the beautiful Meditation from Thais, by Jules Massenet. She followed this with 4 short pieces by Fritz Kriesler, Allegretto, a waltz – Schon Rosmarin, Liebeslied and finally, Liebesfreud with Barry adding an oboe part to good effect.

Janice then sung Richard Strauss Lieder – Firstly, Allerselen from his Op.10 set of songs, then 2 songs from his Op.29 – Traum durch die Dammerung, Morgen, Zueignung. Derek accompanying in all songs.

Barry then provided some more short and entertaining pieces, starting with Gabriel’s Oboe, by Ennio Morricone from the film – The Mission. He then played the second movement of and Oboe Sonata by Camille Saint-Saens. To end this section, Barry played the Cor Anglais in an arrangement of the Sicilian by Gabriel Faure. To follow Elizabeth Venner sung Domine deus from the Gloria by Antonino Vivaldi, accompanied by Barry on oboe. Derek again accompanied on keyboard throughout.

Janice returned to the stage and sung a barnstorming piece; Preludio Para El Aano 3001 a futuristic work by Astor Piazzolla. Serena and Derek accompanied her. Next Janice sang ‘My House’ from the musical, Matilda, by Tim Minchin, with Barry, Serena and Derek accompanying.

Elizabeth joined Janice for the final two songs of this first half. Firstly, the beautiful Evening Prayer from Hansel & Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck. They ended with the Barcarolle from the Tales of Hoffman by Jacques Offenbach.

Janice and Elizabeth opened the second half with two more duets; The Trolley song from the show, Meet me in St Louis by H. Martin and My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Their voices blending beautifully.

As an interlude, Serena played two more short pieces; Cantabile by Nicolai Paganini and a waltz called Valse Triste by von Vecsey, after Sibelius, who was the dedicatee of Sibelius’s violin concerto.

Janice then sung 3 songs from the world of Andrew Lloyd Webber: Wishing you were Somehow Here again from The Phantom of the Opera, Don’t Cry for me Argentina from Evita and finally, As if we never said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard.

Barry and Serena then gave us 3 pieces. Beginning with the theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams, Barry weaving his Cor Anglais straight from the orchestral score between Serena’s violin part. Barry then played a piccolo oboe or musette in a piece called Tarantula was by Carl Baermann. Finally for entertainment value, Barry played a real piccolo in Lord Nelson’s Hornpipe, proving his versatility.

Janice returned to the stage for her two final songs. Firstly, the amusing and humorously observed satirical song ‘A word on my Ear’, by Flaunders & Swan, with wonderful repartee between her and Derek on piano. Finally, Meine Lippen from the operetta Giuditta by Franz Lehar.

A wonderfully constructed concert and enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience. Bravo to Janice, Elizabeth, Barry, Serena and Derek.

At the close of the concert, Cllr. Collins, Cllr. Kumar and Rotary President George Carr presented some a well-deserved ‘vote of thanks’ along with some gifts for all the performers.

Graham Wilson (Freelance Reviewer for EMP)

Photos: Andrew Grady & Clive Butchins & Cllr Tushar Kumar

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 24^th 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 1^st 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

Tag: #EMP CONCERT REVIEW

Concert Review: Janice Watson Sings

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