Four likely lads, Jerome Rouse, Chris Geddes, Jonathan Drummond and Alex Campbell-Hunt, produced some good music with the Dunedin Youth Orchestra directed by David Burchell at the Glenroy Auditorium last night, before an audience of fans and family.
Dunedin Youth Orchestra
Glenroy Auditorium
Tuesday, September 21
The orchestra tiptoed around the solemnity and grandeur of Brahms' Tragic Overture but warmed to Strauss' Horn Concerto, complementing the soloist admirably.
There is no doubt the French horn, having something of a mind of its own, is a difficult instrument to master.
Rouse made it clear from the opening bars that he has, for the most part, mastered it, achieving the wide range of expressions demanded by the work with understated musicality. Well done.
Geddes' composition Dreams was ably conducted by fellow member of the Youth Orchestra, Drummond. Dreams, Geddes informs us, is inspired by the film music of the Hollywood blockbuster.
He plays an assortment of wind instruments for the Youth Orchestra and obviously understands those instruments. But his writing for all sections of the orchestra is also very competent. Dreams won him a deservedly thunderous applause from the audience.
Alex Campbell-Hunt's work, Progress, conducted by Burchell is pointed, painterly, introverted and just a little prickly. Intriguing rhythmic patterns are cross-thatched to the point of confusion, while remaining inwardly compelling. This is a most interesting work from a creative mind.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin awarded the leader of the orchestra, Juno Pyun, and cellist and emerging conductor Drummond, the DYO young musicians prizes.
The evening closed with a lively and delightful performance of selections of Respighi's arrangements of Rossini's ballet suite La Boutique Fantasque .
- Marian Podle
Dunedin Youth Orchestra
Glenroy Auditorium
Tuesday, September 21
The orchestra tiptoed around the solemnity and grandeur of Brahms' Tragic Overture but warmed to Strauss' Horn Concerto, complementing the soloist admirably.
There is no doubt the French horn, having something of a mind of its own, is a difficult instrument to master.
Rouse made it clear from the opening bars that he has, for the most part, mastered it, achieving the wide range of expressions demanded by the work with understated musicality. Well done.
Geddes' composition Dreams was ably conducted by fellow member of the Youth Orchestra, Drummond. Dreams, Geddes informs us, is inspired by the film music of the Hollywood blockbuster.
He plays an assortment of wind instruments for the Youth Orchestra and obviously understands those instruments. But his writing for all sections of the orchestra is also very competent. Dreams won him a deservedly thunderous applause from the audience.
Alex Campbell-Hunt's work, Progress, conducted by Burchell is pointed, painterly, introverted and just a little prickly. Intriguing rhythmic patterns are cross-thatched to the point of confusion, while remaining inwardly compelling. This is a most interesting work from a creative mind.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin awarded the leader of the orchestra, Juno Pyun, and cellist and emerging conductor Drummond, the DYO young musicians prizes.
The evening closed with a lively and delightful performance of selections of Respighi's arrangements of Rossini's ballet suite La Boutique Fantasque .
- Marian Podle
