Inspired symphony choice dedicated to much-loved member

With the renovation of Nelson School of Music, the Nelson Symphony Orchestra has shown great spirit and fortitude to keep staging impressive concerts.

Russian Spectacular was a wonderful achievement. Conductor Nigel Weeks chose a challenging programme of Russian classics, and with the help of 10 imported players, the orchestra gave their very best.

The concert was dedicated to much-loved French Horn player, David Smale, who died last Saturday.

The first item, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition was inspired by an exhibition of paintings by Mussorgsky’s friend Victor Hartman.

These were visible on a large screen in front of the stage and helped us understand the imaginative music.

Magnificent orchestration by Ravel featured bassoons, cymbals, euphonium, tuba, saxophone, bass clarinet, as well as the full range of woodwind and strings. Especially exciting was the percussion section with their line-up of clashing cymbals, big drums and timpani, all in full view. It was a spinetingling experience and the audience exploded with bravos and footstamping applause. The second half included a piece from RimskyKorsakov entitled Cortege from Mlada Suite. Raffaele Bandoli’s penetrating trumpet solo was terrific. Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances was played at a breath-taking pace from concert-master John Thomson. Then the strings continued to the fore with a short but beautiful rendering of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite. The concert ended with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Congratulations, Nigel Weeks. You led the NSO to a triumphant, successful concert.