REVIEW: Brighton Phil perform eclectic mix

THE Brighton Phil seem to be making a conscious effort to showcase their principal players this season and not in one degree has it detracted from the quality of the top local orchestra, who just seem to be getting better and better under the baton of music director Barry Wordsworth.
By Chris Francis
Published 15th Nov 2010, 09:20 BST

With the latest offering falling on Remembrance Sunday, the programme had been suitably chosen and this time it was principal cellist Peter Adams who took centre stage with his splendid performances of Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Faure’s Elegie.

With the programme also including William Walton’s Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, Butterworth’s A Shropshire Lad and Elgar’s Enigma Variations, it was an eclectic mix which should have offered something for everyone and it was only a pity, therefore, that there were quite so many empty seats in the auditorium.

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BPO leader John Bradbury and principal viola Ricardon Zweitisch also had the opportunity to display their immense talents, albeit in lesser measure than Adams, whose impressive credentials simply underline how blessed we are to have such a fine orchestra on our doorstep.

All the musicians regularly perform for other premiere orchestras and Wordsworth’s own distinguished CV must clearly be a factor in drawing together such a wealth of talent.

The next chance to see them in action comes up swiftly, with this Sunday’s offering (November 21) of Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, Britten’s Four Extracts of Ceremony of Carols, Vaughan Williams’ Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus, Dvorak’s Serenade in E Major and the world premiere of Richard Rodney Bennett’s Four American Carols.

With the added bonus of the excellent Brighton Festival Youth Choir also appearing, it promises to be another memorable afternoon of music making

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