{"id":4416,"date":"2012-06-26T12:20:14","date_gmt":"2012-06-26T11:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/?p=4416"},"modified":"2012-06-26T12:29:01","modified_gmt":"2012-06-26T11:29:01","slug":"concert-review-birmingham-post-orchestra-of-the-swan-at-civic-hall-spring-sounds-2012-finale-the-trumpet-shall-sound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2012\/06\/26\/concert-review-birmingham-post-orchestra-of-the-swan-at-civic-hall-spring-sounds-2012-finale-the-trumpet-shall-sound\/","title":{"rendered":"Concert Review- Birmingham Post, Orchestra of the Swan at Civic Hall, “Spring Sounds 2012 Finale- The Trumpet Shall Sound”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A review from senior critic Christopher Morley at the Birmingham Post<\/a> of last week’s Orchestra of the Swan performance in Stratford-upon-Avon featuring trumpet virtuoso, Simon Desbruslais. For space reasons, the original review was slightly cut for the print edition, omitting some key detail, so, with the author’s permission, we reproduce his complete, original text here.<\/p>\n

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Trumpet virtuoso, Simon Desbruslais<\/p><\/div>\n

Review: Orchestra Of The Swan at Civic Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon<\/h1>\n
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By Christopher Morley<\/p>\n

Last week I reviewed a bread-and-butter, standard repertoire concert from the Orchestra of the Swan; on Friday this polished, adept ensemble turned its attention to music that could not be more up-to-the-minute, with two world premieres and another major work from the end of the 20th century.\u00a0And these offerings gripped a well-filled Civic Hall, the audience — and all three composers concerned — marveling at the skill, commitment and sheer tenacity of the steel-lipped Simon Desbrulais, trumpet soloist in these three works.<\/p>\n

First up was \u2018Skyspace\u2019 by Deborah Pritchard, inspired by the installations of artist James Turrell, shiftingly luminous as unisons between trumpet and strings expand outwards into aural perspectives, its colours and textures well-imagined from this restricted palette. The ending came too soon.<\/p>\n

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Composer Deborah Pritchard<\/p><\/div>\n

The other premiere was John McCabe\u2019s \u2018Trumpet Concerto, La Primavera\u2019, jazzily lyrical (the slow movement has the soloist adopting Miles Davis\u2019s flugelhorn), crystally-clear brittle, and featuring extensive duetting between soloist and bongo-rich percussion (Jan Bradley, un-named in the programme, but what a star he is). There is a powerful unison between soloist and orchestra as the fabulous ending to this memorable, life-enhancing piece approaches.<\/p>\n

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Composer John McCabe<\/p><\/div>\n

Between the premieres came the elder statesman, all of 20 years old. Robert Saxton\u2019s \u2018Psalm — A Song of Ascents\u2019 draws its inspiration from biblical references to the trumpet in its various guises, so we certainly get clear-cut fanfaring landmarks amid the work\u2019s tricksy metres. The piece is both gestural and contemplative, often drivingly energetic with coruscating outbursts, but often suffused with bell-coloured magic.<\/p>\n

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Composer Robert Saxton<\/p><\/div>\n

Kenneth Woods was the authoritative conductor, communicating warmly with the audience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Read More\u00a0http:\/\/www.birminghampost.net\/life-leisure-birmingham-guide\/birmingham-culture\/music-in-birmingham\/2012\/06\/22\/review-orchestra-of-the-swan-at-civic-hall-stratford-upon-avon-65233-31225159\/#ixzz1ytfXQpis<\/a><\/p>\n