by Jo Macaulay…
The sun beat down, the champagne flowed, and peals of laughter and anticipatory chatter echoed across the assembled throng, lounging in their fold up chairs and on picnic rugs. Or there were chairs and tables for those in the VIP marquees at the back – with Champagne and a picnic box if you applied early enough, and apparently the food in those was delicious, and well-worth the extra dosh.
Everyone was very sensibly asked to arrive early which meant that the audience were comfortable and had eaten most of their picnic, so no rustling and cork popping by the time the music started. Perfect!
And what a treat that music was, when at first TheaCallaghan’s beautiful voice rang out across the auditorium, hitting the high notes with professional perfection, including a top C (?) at the end of her performance. You could hear a pin drop.
Thomas Luke on piano followed, and he’s in a class of his own. Only 23 and obviously a protégé, Thomas began his career in a room under his grandparent’s stairs, we hear. Thomas’s classical numbers, including a Hayden, are fabulous, as is his interpretation of Michael Jackson’s Human Nature and a number he has written himself, inspired by a visit to Texas last year. I hear he won the keyboard category of Young Pianist of the Year in 2020. I’m not surprised!
Violinist Lizzie Bell was wearing gold sequinned cowboy boots and an eye-catching red dress when she took to the stage with James Pearson on piano. Beginning with a tune that “revolutionised the tango,” Lizzie toys with a bit of note bending – almost hitting the wrong note but recovering it at the last millisecond, which makes for an exciting performance. Next is Little Star in the Sky that she plays at Ronnie Scotts’ on a Monday night – they have a classical night in their upstairs space she tells us, where she and James play. If you like classical music and you’re up in the smoke on a Monday night – Go!!
Lizzie was the orchestra leader for Nigel Kennedy and toured his Four Seasons for ten years! She plays a traditional Irish song, “popularised by the Corrs” and finishes with Vivaldi’s Summer. After her performance her small son rushes towards her. “You were wonderful mummy,” he shouts, as he leaps into her arms. You couldn’t wish for a better review! I choked up.
Part Two is the main event as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra take to the stage – in fact they almost fill it!
“Are they playing?” asked one of our party, looking a little confused. “No, they’re tuning up,” I reply. He looks very relieved. “It does sound rather discordant,” he replied, looking somewhat worried. But there is nothing out of tune in the music that follows, which was at times thoughtful and poignant and at others joyful and celebratory. They romp through Stauss, Arlen, Mendelssohn – that lovely Fingels Cave tune – Mozart, de Senneville and Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King until the first half ends with the Monty Python music – Liberty Bell March.
A short interval sees a run on the top notch burger barbecue, Jasper’s coffee stall and Blush Bar before the BSO return for their last set, which includes the rather beautiful, A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square, Barwick Green (the Archers theme), and then some more traditional Proms numbers such as Rule Britannia – cue an entire audience waving their little union flags – Jerusalem, during which a lady in front of me had her hands out in supplication (maybe she’s a member of the WI?), and Pomp and Circumstance March No 1. The whole crowd goes wild with their flags and many of them are wearing light-up sunflower headbands, which twinkle in the twilight.
The American visitor next to me got quite emotional, although he didn’t want me to tell you. There were tears in his eyes! (He’s originally from British stock).
Finally, the opening bars of the Dambusters March heralded the fantastic firework display, which was put on by the same company who do the Isle of Wight Festival fireworks. Just amazing!!
The evening was a triumph. I loved it! Make sure you get tickets for next year, because it is such a wonderful evening, even if you don’t particularly like to listen to classical music (like me). But if you do, then it’s right up your street. Top notch orchestra and musicians, and superb soloists who can hit all those amazing notes, and sing like angels. I have no idea how they do it!!
Huge thank you to Paul Cox for organising this whole event, including the following night’s concert that featured the BSO playing music from big feature films, such as Harry Potter and Star Wars. Both concerts raised money for Mountbatten Hospice.
Sounds lovely and supporting a terrific cause.
Anyone know where it was held?
Does not say in the article.