Well Done to everyone for the performance yesterday – I hope you all feel proud, and have enjoyed a well earned ‘down day’ to reflect on the success of this latest concert.
That’s my lay person review, but I am also delighted to now add below Clare’s reflections – as always hugely valuable, as well as personal and informed! Arturo has also written a wonderful summary of how he saw the concert – please go to the MD tab for that!
Dear Lovely Members of ESO
Thank you for a brilliant evening on Saturday. I really enjoyed the concert – and I received many positive comments from audience members. One person said that listening to the orchestra was a ‘privilege’, and there were many compliments about the Rachmaninov and how well we played it. Well done! It was truly a brilliant concert.
The Dvorak was lively and exciting, with terrific playing from the brass and percussion, and beautiful wind solos in the middle. A truly rousing start to the concert! The Smetana was confident and purposeful, with beautiful solos in the wind, driving rhythm from the strings, and drama from the brass section. I thought it was excellent. Of course I am biased, but I really enjoyed the Mahler! This was a moving and expressive performance, with everyone really listening and watching to create a rich and varied intensity of sound. This takes confidence, so well done. For me though, the star of the concert was our performance of the Rachmaninov, which was the best that we had ever played it. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and it is a long piece!! This was accomplished playing, and showcased how the orchestra is able to play big repertoire works to a brilliant standard. It was a fantastic and truly memorable performance.
My first thank you is to everyone in the orchestra – for your hard work, energy, and enthusiasm throughout the term. I am so proud to be the Leader of the Orchestra, and really enjoy the friendship that we share.
Thank you also to the players who supported us on Saturday – there were quite a few additions, so thank you for coming and making it possible for the orchestra to perform such a big programme of music.
The person who makes all this possible if of course Arturo. A massive thank you Arturo for another hugely successful term and concert. We are so appreciative of the time and skill you put into conducting the orchestra, and your unswerving ability to get the very best out of the orchestra, which results in such a high standard of playing. Thank you.
My next thank you is to Miles, who does so much work behind the scenes, is always calm, and continues to support the orchestra with enthusiasm and commitment. We are very lucky to have him and Viv supporting the orchestra. A big thank you from all of us for everything that you do.
Thank you to Merrill for her time and efforts as our librarian. This is often a difficult and time consuming job, so thank you for your patience and determination to find all the music and organise it for everyone! You are much appreciated.
Thank you to Josh, who as ever produced another fantastic programme and poster design and continues to manage the website. Thank you to Trevor and Katie for their advertising/social media skills. Thank you to Caroline as Treasurer, Helen as Membership Secretary, and to all those people who help out front of house and during the interval. Thank you to Judith who takes care of booking the hall each term. There are a lot of people who help to run the orchestra, so I’m sorry if I have forgotten anyone, but thank you to you all on behalf of the whole orchestra.
I would like to wish you a very Happy Easter, and I look forward to seeing you all next term on 21st April!
With Best Wishes
Clare
Well said, Clare and as one term ends, another begins, so here are the rehearsal dates leading up to the Summer concert, on 18th July!
21 & 28 April
5, 12 & 19 May
2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 June
7 & 14 July
Miles
